diff --git a/bin/makefile-cygwin.x86_64-sdl b/bin/makefile-cygwin.x86_64-sdl
index 17a893e..28531eb 100644
--- a/bin/makefile-cygwin.x86_64-sdl
+++ b/bin/makefile-cygwin.x86_64-sdl
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ XFLAGS = -DSDL=2
 
 # OPTFLAGS is normally -O2.
 OPTFLAGS =  -O2 -g3
-DFLAGS = $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=351
+DFLAGS = $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=$(RELEASE)
 
 LDFLAGS = -lm -L/usr/local/lib -lSDL2
 #
diff --git a/bin/makefile-cygwin.x86_64-x b/bin/makefile-cygwin.x86_64-x
index f280cba..499d5d1 100644
--- a/bin/makefile-cygwin.x86_64-x
+++ b/bin/makefile-cygwin.x86_64-x
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ XFLAGS = -DXWINDOW
 
 # OPTFLAGS is normally -O2.
 OPTFLAGS =  -O2 -g3
-DFLAGS = $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=351
+DFLAGS = $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=$(RELEASE)
 
 LDFLAGS = -L/usr/X11/lib -lX11 -lc -lm
 LDELDFLAGS =  -L/usr/X11/lib -lX11 -lc -lm
diff --git a/bin/makefile-darwin.386-x b/bin/makefile-darwin.386-x
index abd20e8..8b6f487 100644
--- a/bin/makefile-darwin.386-x
+++ b/bin/makefile-darwin.386-x
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ XFLAGS = -I/opt/X11/include -DXWINDOW
 OPTFLAGS =  -O2 -g
 DEBUGFLAGS = # -DDEBUG -DOPTRACE
 DFLAGS = $(DEBUGFLAGS) $(XFLAGS) \
-	-DRELEASE=351 # -DSTACKCHECK -DFSBCHECK -DPCTRACE
+	-DRELEASE=$(RELEASE) # -DSTACKCHECK -DFSBCHECK -DPCTRACE
 
 LDFLAGS = -L/opt/X11/lib -lX11 -lm
 LDELDFLAGS =  -L/opt/X11/lib -lX11 -lm
diff --git a/bin/makefile-darwin.aarch64-sdl b/bin/makefile-darwin.aarch64-sdl
index d55bf66..30df940 100644
--- a/bin/makefile-darwin.aarch64-sdl
+++ b/bin/makefile-darwin.aarch64-sdl
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ SDLFLAGS = -DSDL=2 -F /Library/Frameworks
 # OPTFLAGS is normally -O2.
 OPTFLAGS =  -O2 -g
 DEBUGFLAGS = # -DDEBUG -DOPTRACE
-DFLAGS = $(DEBUGFLAGS) $(SDLFLAGS) -DRELEASE=351
+DFLAGS = $(DEBUGFLAGS) $(SDLFLAGS) -DRELEASE=$(RELEASE)
 
 LDFLAGS = -rpath /Library/Frameworks -F /Library/Frameworks -framework SDL2
 LDELDFLAGS =
diff --git a/bin/makefile-darwin.aarch64-x b/bin/makefile-darwin.aarch64-x
index 867eb5d..37da65e 100644
--- a/bin/makefile-darwin.aarch64-x
+++ b/bin/makefile-darwin.aarch64-x
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ XFLAGS = -I/opt/X11/include -DXWINDOW
 # OPTFLAGS is normally -O2.
 OPTFLAGS =  -O2
 DEBUGFLAGS = # -DDEBUG -DOPTRACE
-DFLAGS = $(DEBUGFLAGS) $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=351
+DFLAGS = $(DEBUGFLAGS) $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=$(RELEASE)
 
 LDFLAGS = -L/opt/X11/lib -lX11 -lm
 LDELDFLAGS =  -L/opt/X11/lib -lX11 -lm
diff --git a/bin/makefile-darwin.ppc-x b/bin/makefile-darwin.ppc-x
index 50db58f..8914076 100644
--- a/bin/makefile-darwin.ppc-x
+++ b/bin/makefile-darwin.ppc-x
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ XFLAGS = -I/usr/X11/include -DXWINDOW
 OPTFLAGS =  -O2 -g
 DEBUGFLAGS = # -DDEBUG -DOPTRACE
 DFLAGS = $(DEBUGFLAGS) $(XFLAGS) \
-	-DRELEASE=351
+	-DRELEASE=$(RELEASE)
 
 LDFLAGS = -L/usr/X11/lib -lX11 -lm
 LDELDFLAGS =  -L/usr/X11/lib -lX11 -lm
diff --git a/bin/makefile-darwin.x86_64-sdl b/bin/makefile-darwin.x86_64-sdl
index 86d7a9c..3af48da 100644
--- a/bin/makefile-darwin.x86_64-sdl
+++ b/bin/makefile-darwin.x86_64-sdl
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ SDLFLAGS = -DSDL=2 -F /Library/Frameworks
 # OPTFLAGS is normally -O2.
 OPTFLAGS =  -O2 -g
 DEBUGFLAGS = # -DDEBUG -DOPTRACE
-DFLAGS = $(DEBUGFLAGS) $(SDLFLAGS) -DRELEASE=351
+DFLAGS = $(DEBUGFLAGS) $(SDLFLAGS) -DRELEASE=$(RELEASE)
 
 LDFLAGS = -rpath /Library/Frameworks -F /Library/Frameworks -framework SDL2
 LDELDFLAGS =
diff --git a/bin/makefile-darwin.x86_64-x b/bin/makefile-darwin.x86_64-x
index 54d61d4..35a6be8 100644
--- a/bin/makefile-darwin.x86_64-x
+++ b/bin/makefile-darwin.x86_64-x
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ XFLAGS = -I/opt/X11/include -DXWINDOW
 # OPTFLAGS is normally -O2.
 OPTFLAGS =  -O1 -g
 DEBUGFLAGS = # -DDEBUG -DOPTRACE
-DFLAGS = $(DEBUGFLAGS) $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=351
+DFLAGS = $(DEBUGFLAGS) $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=$(RELEASE)
 
 LDFLAGS = -L/opt/X11/lib -lX11 -lm
 LDELDFLAGS =  -L/opt/X11/lib -lX11 -lm
diff --git a/bin/makefile-emscripten.wasm-wasm b/bin/makefile-emscripten.wasm-wasm
index 48c91b4..37f213a 100644
--- a/bin/makefile-emscripten.wasm-wasm
+++ b/bin/makefile-emscripten.wasm-wasm
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ XFLAGS = -DSDL=2 -sUSE_SDL=2
 
 # OPTFLAGS is normally -O2.
 OPTFLAGS = -O2
-DFLAGS = $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=351 -DMAIKO_ENABLE_NETHUB
+DFLAGS = $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=$(RELEASE) -DMAIKO_ENABLE_NETHUB
 
 MEDLEY?=../../medley
 SYSOUT?=$(MEDLEY)/loadups/full.sysout
diff --git a/bin/makefile-emscripten.wasm_nl-wasm_nl b/bin/makefile-emscripten.wasm_nl-wasm_nl
index cf5a712..3ec7af1 100644
--- a/bin/makefile-emscripten.wasm_nl-wasm_nl
+++ b/bin/makefile-emscripten.wasm_nl-wasm_nl
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ XFLAGS = -DSDL=2 -sUSE_SDL=2
 
 # OPTFLAGS is normally -O2.
 OPTFLAGS = -O2
-DFLAGS = $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=351 -DMAIKO_ENABLE_NETHUB
+DFLAGS = $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=$(RELEASE) -DMAIKO_ENABLE_NETHUB
 
 MEDLEY?=../../medley
 SYSOUT?=$(MEDLEY)/loadups/full.sysout
diff --git a/bin/makefile-freebsd.386-sdl b/bin/makefile-freebsd.386-sdl
index 774acff..fffdabd 100644
--- a/bin/makefile-freebsd.386-sdl
+++ b/bin/makefile-freebsd.386-sdl
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ SDLFLAGS = -DSDL=2 -I/usr/local/include
 
 # OPTFLAGS is normally -O2.
 OPTFLAGS = -O2 -g
-DFLAGS = $(SDLFLAGS) -DRELEASE=351
+DFLAGS = $(SDLFLAGS) -DRELEASE=$(RELEASE)
 
 LDFLAGS = -L/usr/local/lib -lSDL2 -lm
 LDELDFLAGS =
diff --git a/bin/makefile-freebsd.386-x b/bin/makefile-freebsd.386-x
index fa98c63..bb42820 100644
--- a/bin/makefile-freebsd.386-x
+++ b/bin/makefile-freebsd.386-x
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ XFLAGS = -I/usr/local/include -DXWINDOW
 
 # OPTFLAGS is normally -O2.
 OPTFLAGS = -O2 -g
-DFLAGS = $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=351
+DFLAGS = $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=$(RELEASE)
 
 LDFLAGS = -L/usr/local/lib -lX11 -lc -lm
 LDELDFLAGS =  -L/usr/local/lib -lX11 -lc -lm
diff --git a/bin/makefile-freebsd.aarch64-sdl b/bin/makefile-freebsd.aarch64-sdl
index 51b3b69..fadb7e6 100644
--- a/bin/makefile-freebsd.aarch64-sdl
+++ b/bin/makefile-freebsd.aarch64-sdl
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ SDLFLAGS = -DSDL=2 -I/usr/local/include
 
 # OPTFLAGS is normally -O2.
 OPTFLAGS = -O2 -g
-DFLAGS = $(SDLFLAGS) -DRELEASE=351
+DFLAGS = $(SDLFLAGS) -DRELEASE=$(RELEASE)
 
 LDFLAGS = -L/usr/local/lib -lSDL2 -lm
 LDELDFLAGS =
diff --git a/bin/makefile-freebsd.aarch64-x b/bin/makefile-freebsd.aarch64-x
index 7318c9a..699bd2a 100644
--- a/bin/makefile-freebsd.aarch64-x
+++ b/bin/makefile-freebsd.aarch64-x
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ XFLAGS = -I/usr/local/include -DXWINDOW
 
 # OPTFLAGS is normally -O2.
 OPTFLAGS = -O2 -g
-DFLAGS = $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=351
+DFLAGS = $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=$(RELEASE)
 
 LDFLAGS = -L/usr/local/lib -lX11 -lc -lm
 LDELDFLAGS =  -L/usr/local/lib -lX11 -lc -lm
diff --git a/bin/makefile-freebsd.x86_64-sdl b/bin/makefile-freebsd.x86_64-sdl
index 4a5ba02..c04bb87 100644
--- a/bin/makefile-freebsd.x86_64-sdl
+++ b/bin/makefile-freebsd.x86_64-sdl
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ SDLFLAGS = -DSDL=2 -I/usr/local/include
 
 # OPTFLAGS is normally -O2.
 OPTFLAGS = -O2 -g
-DFLAGS = $(SDLFLAGS) -DRELEASE=351
+DFLAGS = $(SDLFLAGS) -DRELEASE=$(RELEASE)
 
 LDFLAGS = -L/usr/local/lib -lSDL2 -lm
 LDELDFLAGS =
diff --git a/bin/makefile-freebsd.x86_64-x b/bin/makefile-freebsd.x86_64-x
index 223ba40..1c17157 100644
--- a/bin/makefile-freebsd.x86_64-x
+++ b/bin/makefile-freebsd.x86_64-x
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ XFLAGS = -I/usr/local/include -DXWINDOW
 
 # OPTFLAGS is normally -O2.
 OPTFLAGS = -O2 -g
-DFLAGS = $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=351
+DFLAGS = $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=$(RELEASE)
 
 LDFLAGS = -L/usr/local/lib -lX11 -lc -lm
 LDELDFLAGS =  -L/usr/local/lib -lX11 -lc -lm
diff --git a/bin/makefile-haiku.x86_64-sdl b/bin/makefile-haiku.x86_64-sdl
index 57ddedd..7b72dec 100644
--- a/bin/makefile-haiku.x86_64-sdl
+++ b/bin/makefile-haiku.x86_64-sdl
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ XFLAGS = -DSDL=2
 
 # OPTFLAGS is normally -O2.
 OPTFLAGS =  -O2 -g3
-DFLAGS = $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=351
+DFLAGS = $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=$(RELEASE)
 
 LDFLAGS =  -lSDL2 -lnetwork
 LDELDFLAGS = -lnetwork -lbsd
diff --git a/bin/makefile-init-darwin.386 b/bin/makefile-init-darwin.386
index c7aaa62..862ab12 100644
--- a/bin/makefile-init-darwin.386
+++ b/bin/makefile-init-darwin.386
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ XFLAGS = -I/opt/X11/include -DXWINDOW
 # OPTFLAGS is normally -O2, for INIT we want unoptimized in case we need to debug it
 OPTFLAGS =  -O0 -g
 DEBUGFLAGS =
-DFLAGS = $(DEBUGFLAGS) $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=351 -DNOVERSION -DINIT
+DFLAGS = $(DEBUGFLAGS) $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=$(RELEASE) -DNOVERSION -DINIT
 
 LDFLAGS = -L/usr/X11/lib -lX11 -lm
 LDELDFLAGS =  -L/usr/X11/lib -lX11 -lm
diff --git a/bin/makefile-init-darwin.aarch64 b/bin/makefile-init-darwin.aarch64
index 65cdfb3..feee458 100644
--- a/bin/makefile-init-darwin.aarch64
+++ b/bin/makefile-init-darwin.aarch64
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ XFLAGS = -I/opt/X11/include -DXWINDOW
 # OPTFLAGS is normally -O2.
 OPTFLAGS =  -O0 -g3
 DEBUGFLAGS = # -DDEBUG -DOPTRACE
-DFLAGS = $(DEBUGFLAGS) $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=351 -DNOVERSION -DINIT
+DFLAGS = $(DEBUGFLAGS) $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=$(RELEASE) -DNOVERSION -DINIT
 
 LDFLAGS = -L/opt/X11/lib -lX11 -lm
 LDELDFLAGS = -L/opt/X11/lib -lX11 -lm
diff --git a/bin/makefile-init-darwin.x86_64 b/bin/makefile-init-darwin.x86_64
index 71288cf..fa669bc 100644
--- a/bin/makefile-init-darwin.x86_64
+++ b/bin/makefile-init-darwin.x86_64
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ XFLAGS = -I/opt/X11/include -DXWINDOW
 # OPTFLAGS is normally -O2.
 OPTFLAGS =  -O0 -g
 DEBUGFLAGS = # -DDEBUG -DOPTRACE
-DFLAGS = $(DEBUGFLAGS) $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=351 -DNOVERSION -DINIT
+DFLAGS = $(DEBUGFLAGS) $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=$(RELEASE) -DNOVERSION -DINIT
 
 LDFLAGS = -L/opt/X11/lib -lX11 -lm
 LDELDFLAGS =  -L/opt/X11/lib -lX11 -lm
diff --git a/bin/makefile-init-freebsd.386 b/bin/makefile-init-freebsd.386
index ffb691b..a216d97 100644
--- a/bin/makefile-init-freebsd.386
+++ b/bin/makefile-init-freebsd.386
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ XFLAGS = -I/usr/local/include -DXWINDOW
 
 # OPTFLAGS is normally -O0 for init
 OPTFLAGS = -O0 -g
-DFLAGS = $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=351 -DNOVERSION -DINIT
+DFLAGS = $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=$(RELEASE) -DNOVERSION -DINIT
 
 LDFLAGS = -L/usr/local/lib -lX11 -lc -lm
 LDELDFLAGS =  -L/usr/local/lib -lX11 -lc -lm
diff --git a/bin/makefile-init-freebsd.aarch64 b/bin/makefile-init-freebsd.aarch64
index be70868..0069df9 100644
--- a/bin/makefile-init-freebsd.aarch64
+++ b/bin/makefile-init-freebsd.aarch64
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ XFLAGS = -I/usr/local/include -DXWINDOW
 
 # OPTFLAGS is normally -O0 for init
 OPTFLAGS = -O0 -g
-DFLAGS = $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=351 -DNOVERSION -DINIT
+DFLAGS = $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=$(RELEASE) -DNOVERSION -DINIT
 
 LDFLAGS = -L/usr/local/lib -lX11 -lc -lm
 LDELDFLAGS =  -L/usr/local/lib -lX11 -lc -lm
diff --git a/bin/makefile-init-freebsd.x86_64 b/bin/makefile-init-freebsd.x86_64
index 8da5044..e303dcf 100644
--- a/bin/makefile-init-freebsd.x86_64
+++ b/bin/makefile-init-freebsd.x86_64
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ XFLAGS = -I/usr/local/include -DXWINDOW
 
 # OPTFLAGS is normally -O0 for init
 OPTFLAGS = -O0 -g
-DFLAGS = $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=351 -DNOVERSION -DINIT
+DFLAGS = $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=$(RELEASE) -DNOVERSION -DINIT
 
 LDFLAGS = -L/usr/local/lib -lX11 -lc -lm
 LDELDFLAGS =  -L/usr/local/lib -lX11 -lc -lm
diff --git a/bin/makefile-init-linux.aarch64 b/bin/makefile-init-linux.aarch64
index f750561..52ab52b 100644
--- a/bin/makefile-init-linux.aarch64
+++ b/bin/makefile-init-linux.aarch64
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ XFLAGS = -DXWINDOW
 # OPTFLAGS is normally -O2, for INIT we want unoptimized in case we need to debug it
 OPTFLAGS =  -O0 -g
 DEBUGFLAGS =
-DFLAGS = $(DEBUGFLAGS) $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=351 -DNOVERSION -DINIT
+DFLAGS = $(DEBUGFLAGS) $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=$(RELEASE) -DNOVERSION -DINIT
 
 LDFLAGS = -L/usr/X11/lib -lX11 -lc -lm
 LDELDFLAGS =  -L/usr/X11/lib -lX11 -lc -lm
diff --git a/bin/makefile-init-linux.x86_64 b/bin/makefile-init-linux.x86_64
index 89bcfac..8eeb208 100644
--- a/bin/makefile-init-linux.x86_64
+++ b/bin/makefile-init-linux.x86_64
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ XFLAGS = -DXWINDOW
 # OPTFLAGS is normally -O2, for INIT we want unoptimized in case we need to debug it
 OPTFLAGS =  -O0 -g
 DEBUGFLAGS =
-DFLAGS = $(DEBUGFLAGS) $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=351 -DNOVERSION -DINIT
+DFLAGS = $(DEBUGFLAGS) $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=$(RELEASE) -DNOVERSION -DINIT
 
 LDFLAGS = -L/usr/X11/lib -lX11 -lc -lm
 LDELDFLAGS =  -L/usr/X11/lib -lX11 -lc -lm
diff --git a/bin/makefile-init-openbsd.x86_64 b/bin/makefile-init-openbsd.x86_64
index 3267621..facc9a0 100644
--- a/bin/makefile-init-openbsd.x86_64
+++ b/bin/makefile-init-openbsd.x86_64
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ XFLAGS = -I/usr/X11R6/include -DXWINDOW
 
 # OPTFLAGS is normally -O2.
 OPTFLAGS =  -O2 -g3
-DFLAGS = $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=351 -DNOVERSION -DINIT
+DFLAGS = $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=$(RELEASE) -DNOVERSION -DINIT
 
 LDFLAGS = -L/usr/X11R6/lib -lX11 -lc -lm
 LDELDFLAGS =  -L/usr/X11R6/lib -lX11 -lc -lm
diff --git a/bin/makefile-init-sunos5.sparc b/bin/makefile-init-sunos5.sparc
index b75871b..60ac765 100644
--- a/bin/makefile-init-sunos5.sparc
+++ b/bin/makefile-init-sunos5.sparc
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ DFLAGS = -DINIT \
 	 $(XFLAGS) \
 	 $(DEBUGFLAGS) \
 	 $(MACHINEFLAGS) \
-	 -DNOVERSION -DRELEASE=351 
+	 -DNOVERSION -DRELEASE=$(RELEASE) 
 
 
 LDFLAGS = -lX11 -lc -lm -lsocket -lnsl
diff --git a/bin/makefile-linux.386-sdl b/bin/makefile-linux.386-sdl
index 39bea78..733f3c7 100644
--- a/bin/makefile-linux.386-sdl
+++ b/bin/makefile-linux.386-sdl
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ XFLAGS = -DSDL=2
 
 # OPTFLAGS is normally -O2.
 OPTFLAGS =  -O2 -g3
-DFLAGS = $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=351
+DFLAGS = $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=$(RELEASE)
 
 LDFLAGS = -lm -lSDL2
 LDELDFLAGS =
diff --git a/bin/makefile-linux.386-x b/bin/makefile-linux.386-x
index 5250683..e733b9a 100644
--- a/bin/makefile-linux.386-x
+++ b/bin/makefile-linux.386-x
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ XFLAGS = -DXWINDOW
 
 # OPTFLAGS is normally -O2.
 OPTFLAGS =  -O2 -g3
-DFLAGS = $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=351
+DFLAGS = $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=$(RELEASE)
 
 LDFLAGS = -L/usr/X11/lib -lX11 -lc -lm
 LDELDFLAGS =  -L/usr/X11/lib -lX11 -lc -lm
diff --git a/bin/makefile-linux.aarch64-sdl b/bin/makefile-linux.aarch64-sdl
index b87f0c1..94b719c 100644
--- a/bin/makefile-linux.aarch64-sdl
+++ b/bin/makefile-linux.aarch64-sdl
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ SDLFLAGS = -DSDL=2
 
 # OPTFLAGS is normally -O2.
 OPTFLAGS =  -O2 -g3
-DFLAGS = $(SDLFLAGS) -DRELEASE=351
+DFLAGS = $(SDLFLAGS) -DRELEASE=$(RELEASE)
 
 LDFLAGS = -lSDL2 -lm
 LDELDFLAGS =
diff --git a/bin/makefile-linux.aarch64-x b/bin/makefile-linux.aarch64-x
index ac16213..ff0b349 100644
--- a/bin/makefile-linux.aarch64-x
+++ b/bin/makefile-linux.aarch64-x
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ XFLAGS = -DXWINDOW
 
 # OPTFLAGS is normally -O2.
 OPTFLAGS =  -O2 -g3
-DFLAGS = $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=351
+DFLAGS = $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=$(RELEASE)
 
 LDFLAGS = -L/usr/X11/lib -lX11 -lc -lm
 LDELDFLAGS =  -L/usr/X11/lib -lX11 -lc -lm
diff --git a/bin/makefile-linux.armv7l-sdl b/bin/makefile-linux.armv7l-sdl
index a1adbe3..da9c4cc 100644
--- a/bin/makefile-linux.armv7l-sdl
+++ b/bin/makefile-linux.armv7l-sdl
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ XFLAGS = -DSDL=2
 
 # OPTFLAGS is normally -O2.
 OPTFLAGS =  -O2 -g3
-DFLAGS = $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=351
+DFLAGS = $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=$(RELEASE)
 
 LDFLAGS = -lm -lSDL2
 LDELDFLAGS =
diff --git a/bin/makefile-linux.armv7l-x b/bin/makefile-linux.armv7l-x
index 1f2f156..ee283b4 100644
--- a/bin/makefile-linux.armv7l-x
+++ b/bin/makefile-linux.armv7l-x
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ XFLAGS = -DXWINDOW
 
 # OPTFLAGS is normally -O2.
 OPTFLAGS =  -O2 -g3
-DFLAGS = $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=351
+DFLAGS = $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=$(RELEASE)
 
 LDFLAGS = -L/usr/X11/lib -lX11 -lc -lm
 LDELDFLAGS =  -L/usr/X11/lib -lX11 -lc -lm
diff --git a/bin/makefile-linux.x86_64-sdl b/bin/makefile-linux.x86_64-sdl
index 0595b63..ccf98c3 100644
--- a/bin/makefile-linux.x86_64-sdl
+++ b/bin/makefile-linux.x86_64-sdl
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ XFLAGS = -DSDL=2
 
 # OPTFLAGS is normally -O2.
 OPTFLAGS =  -O2 -g3
-DFLAGS = $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=351
+DFLAGS = $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=$(RELEASE)
 
 LDFLAGS = -lm -lSDL2
 LDELDFLAGS =
diff --git a/bin/makefile-linux.x86_64-x b/bin/makefile-linux.x86_64-x
index 64c3eb0..e9225aa 100644
--- a/bin/makefile-linux.x86_64-x
+++ b/bin/makefile-linux.x86_64-x
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ XFLAGS = -DXWINDOW
 
 # OPTFLAGS is normally -O2.
 OPTFLAGS =  -O2 -g3
-DFLAGS = $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=351
+DFLAGS = $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=$(RELEASE)
 
 LDFLAGS = -L/usr/X11/lib -lX11 -lc -lm
 LDELDFLAGS =  -L/usr/X11/lib -lX11 -lc -lm
diff --git a/bin/makefile-openbsd.x86_64-x b/bin/makefile-openbsd.x86_64-x
index b95e5f5..9624f31 100644
--- a/bin/makefile-openbsd.x86_64-x
+++ b/bin/makefile-openbsd.x86_64-x
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ XFLAGS = -I/usr/X11R6/include -DXWINDOW
 
 # OPTFLAGS is normally -O2.
 OPTFLAGS =  -O2 -g3
-DFLAGS = $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=351
+DFLAGS = $(XFLAGS) -DRELEASE=$(RELEASE)
 
 LDFLAGS = -L/usr/X11R6/lib -lX11 -lc -lm
 LDELDFLAGS =  -L/usr/X11R6/lib -lX11 -lc -lm
diff --git a/bin/makefile-sunos5.386-x b/bin/makefile-sunos5.386-x
index 22bedc6..108712d 100644
--- a/bin/makefile-sunos5.386-x
+++ b/bin/makefile-sunos5.386-x
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ DEBUGFLAGS = # -DSTACKCHECK -DFNSTKCHECK
 DFLAGS = $(XFLAGS) \
 	 $(DEBUGFLAGS) \
 	-DOS5 \
-	-DRELEASE=351
+	-DRELEASE=$(RELEASE)
 
 LDFLAGS = -L/usr/X11/lib -lX11 -lc -lm -lsocket -lnsl
 LDELDFLAGS = -L/usr/X11/lib -lX11  -lc -lm -lsocket -lnsl
diff --git a/bin/makefile-sunos5.sparc-x b/bin/makefile-sunos5.sparc-x
index cca4965..ed266c4 100644
--- a/bin/makefile-sunos5.sparc-x
+++ b/bin/makefile-sunos5.sparc-x
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ MACHINEFLAGS = -DOS5 -DUSE_DLPI
 DFLAGS = $(XFLAGS) \
 	 $(DEBUGFLAGS) \
 	 $(MACHINEFLAGS) \
-	 -DRELEASE=351
+	 -DRELEASE=$(RELEASE)
 
 LDFLAGS = -lX11 -lc -lm -lsocket -lnsl
 LDELDFLAGS = -lX11  -lc -lm -lsocket -lnsl
diff --git a/bin/makefile-sunos5.x86_64-x b/bin/makefile-sunos5.x86_64-x
index 8322b1b..5cc9cc4 100644
--- a/bin/makefile-sunos5.x86_64-x
+++ b/bin/makefile-sunos5.x86_64-x
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ DFLAGS = $(XFLAGS) \
 	 $(DEBUGFLAGS) \
 	-DOS5 \
 	-DUSE_DLPI \
-	-DRELEASE=351
+	-DRELEASE=$(RELEASE)
 
 LDFLAGS = -L/usr/X11/lib -lX11 -lc -lm -lsocket -lnsl
 LDELDFLAGS = -L/usr/X11/lib -lX11  -lc -lm -lsocket -lnsl
diff --git a/bin/makeright b/bin/makeright
index 08a68ea..69c06b3 100755
--- a/bin/makeright
+++ b/bin/makeright
@@ -54,9 +54,10 @@ if test $# -gt 0
 	shift
 fi
 
+: ${RELEASE=351}
 architecture=`machinetype`
 osversion=`osversion`
-echo "making so far for ${osversion} on ${architecture}."
+echo "making release ${RELEASE} for ${osversion} on ${architecture}."
 case "$display" in
 	init)	display=single
 		releasename=init-${osversion}.${architecture}
@@ -106,12 +107,12 @@ if [ ! -d ../${releasename} ]; then
     mkdir ../${releasename}
 fi
 
-echo start making lde for ${releasename}.
+echo start making lde for ${releasename}
 
 # then finally do the make, including the right stuff
 # With makefile-tail merged, this should only take ONE make command....
 
-make RELEASENAME=${releasename} LDENAME=${ldename} \
+make RELEASENAME=${releasename} RELEASE=${RELEASE} LDENAME=${ldename} \
 			OSARCHNAME=${osversion}.${architecture} \
 			-f makefile-header -f makefile-${releasename} \
 			-f makefile-tail $*