diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 1d6b3e87fed..9c0259e03d3 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -256,10 +256,12 @@ release: git-submodules
 		--skip-validate
 
 	@docker image push --all-tags testinprod/op-erigon
-	@docker manifest create testinprod/op-erigon:latest \
-		--amend testinprod/op-erigon:$$(echo ${VERSION} | cut -c 2- )-amd64 \
-		--amend testinprod/op-erigon:$$(echo ${VERSION} | cut -c 2- )-arm64
-	@docker manifest push testinprod/op-erigon:latest
+
+	@if echo "$(VERSION)" | grep -iq "rc"; then
+		@docker manifest create testinprod/op-erigon:latest \
+    		--amend testinprod/op-erigon:$$(echo ${VERSION} | cut -c 2- )-amd64 \
+    		--amend testinprod/op-erigon:$$(echo ${VERSION} | cut -c 2- )-arm64; \
+		@docker manifest push testinprod/op-erigon:latest; fi
 
 # since DOCKER_UID, DOCKER_GID are default initialized to the current user uid/gid,
 # we need separate envvars to facilitate creation of the erigon user on the host OS.