diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yaml b/.github/workflows/release.yaml
index 33137ec4..4dc62957 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yaml
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           set +o pipefail
           docker login -u "${DOCKER_USERNAME}" -p "${DOCKER_PASSWORD}"
+          # Export current docker tag (release version) as env variable DOCKER_TAG
+          export $(cat .env | xargs)
           TARGET_DOCKER_TAG=`git describe --tags --exact-match` || exit 1
           echo Selected tag ${TARGET_DOCKER_TAG}
           # Tag and push passed "k3d-iff.localhost:12345" with release tag