diff --git a/openwrtbuilder b/openwrtbuilder
index a5d8b43..43b097e 100755
--- a/openwrtbuilder
+++ b/openwrtbuilder
@@ -621,7 +621,7 @@ main() {
         : "${BUILDDIR:=$SCRIPTDIR}"
         : "${FILESDIR:=$BUILDDIR/files}"
 
-        : "${P_ARR[release]:=$USER_RELEASE:=$RELEASE}" # precedence: profile>user input>env>hardcode
+        : "${P_ARR[release]:=${USER_RELEASE:-$RELEASE}}" # precedence: profile>user input>env>hardcode
         : "${P_ARR[source_archive]:=$BUILDDIR/sources/${P_ARR[profile]}-${P_ARR[release]}.tar.xz}"
         : "${P_ARR[source_dir]:=${P_ARR[source_archive]%.tar.xz}}"
         : "${P_ARR[out_bin_dir]:=$BUILDDIR/bin/${P_ARR[profile]}-${P_ARR[release]}}"