diff --git a/release/release b/release/release
index bf7909c5b..b45f19607 100755
--- a/release/release
+++ b/release/release
@@ -232,6 +232,10 @@ function createRelease(options) {
         }
 
         var newVersion = options.amend ? lastVersion : (options.version || semver.inc(lastVersion, 'patch'));
+         // guard against options.version being commander's version function. any command using this code path needs to explicitly clear the version
+         // this is the price to pay for using --version with commander
+        assert(semver.valid(newVersion));
+
         releases[lastReachableVersion].next = newVersion;
 
         var newImageId = options.image ? parseInt(options.image, 10) : releases[lastReachableVersion].imageId;
@@ -612,6 +616,7 @@ program.command('publish')
 
 program.command('rerelease')
     .option('--env <dev/staging/prod>', 'Environment (dev/staging/prod)', 'dev')
+    .option('--version <version>', 'Create the specified version', null)
     .description('Make a new release, same as the last release')
     .action(function (options) { options.rerelease = true; createRelease(options); });