diff --git a/src/Makefile.am b/src/Makefile.am
index bf6ae668..cca7cf40 100644
--- a/src/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/Makefile.am
@@ -758,5 +758,6 @@ dist_man5_MANS = doc/man/recoll.conf.5
 dist-hook:
 	(cd $(top_srcdir); find . \
             \( -name '*.pyc' -o -name '#*' -o -name '*~' \) -delete)
-	test -z "`git status -s | grep -v '??' | grep -v Makefile.am`" 
-	git tag -a RECOLL-$(VERSION) -m "Release $(VERSION) tagged"
+	test -z "`git status -s | grep -v '??' | grep -v Makefile.am`"
+        vers=`echo $(VERSION) | sed -e 's/~/_/g'`;\
+	git tag -a RECOLL-$$vers -m "Release $$vers tagged"