--- a/usr/lib/byobu/release
+++ b/usr/lib/byobu/release
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ __release() {
 		true
 	elif [ -r "/etc/os-release" ]; then
 		# lsb_release is *really* slow;  try to use /etc/os-release
-		release=$(. /etc/os-release && echo "$VERSION_ID")
+		RELEASE=$(. /etc/os-release && echo "$VERSION_ID")
 	elif [ -r "/etc/issue" ]; then
 		# next try /etc/issue first
 		local issue