diff --git a/pipeline.sh b/pipeline.sh
index 36c2dfc3..ffe517a9 100755
--- a/pipeline.sh
+++ b/pipeline.sh
@@ -3,13 +3,6 @@
 EE=${EE:-false}
 SNAPSHOT=${SNAPSHOT:-false}
 
-# evaluate if the version argument must be passed
-if [ -z "$VERSION" ]; then
-  VERSION_ARGUMENT=""
-else
-  VERSION_ARGUMENT="--build-arg VERSION=${VERSION}"
-fi
-
 IMAGE_NAME=camunda/camunda-bpm-platform:${DISTRO}-${PLATFORM}
 
 docker buildx build .                         \
@@ -20,7 +13,7 @@ docker buildx build .                         \
     --build-arg USER=${NEXUS_USER}            \
     --build-arg PASSWORD=${NEXUS_PASS}        \
     --build-arg SNAPSHOT=${SNAPSHOT}          \
-    ${VERSION_ARGUMENT}                       \
+    --build-arg VERSION=${VERSION}            \
     --cache-to type=gha,scope="$GITHUB_REF_NAME-$DISTRO-image" \
     --cache-from type=gha,scope="$GITHUB_REF_NAME-$DISTRO-image" \
     --load