diff --git a/redhat/Makefile.variables b/redhat/Makefile.variables
index a8ac81d0ef621a59d24850d18a5370a83ca6d15f..b34ce1f3c8dcb66ab6723267b92cce34e9f1a970 100644
--- a/redhat/Makefile.variables
+++ b/redhat/Makefile.variables
@@ -147,9 +147,9 @@ UPSTREAM_BRANCH ?= master
 # on a branch tracking upstream. This allows for generating rpms
 # based on untagged releases.
 ifeq ($(SPECGEMINI),0)
-  VERSION_ON_UPSTREAM:=1
+  VERSION_ON_UPSTREAM ?= 1
 else
-  VERSION_ON_UPSTREAM:=0
+  VERSION_ON_UPSTREAM ?= 0
 endif
 
 # Builds may include a s390x+zfcpdump arch build, which results in the build