diff --git a/contrib/gitian-descriptors/assign_DISTNAME b/contrib/gitian-descriptors/assign_DISTNAME
index f6ba157b6c..13469d6b75 100644
--- a/contrib/gitian-descriptors/assign_DISTNAME
+++ b/contrib/gitian-descriptors/assign_DISTNAME
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 # A helper script to be sourced into the gitian descriptors
 
 if RECENT_TAG="$(git describe --exact-match HEAD 2> /dev/null)"; then
+    RECENT_TAG="${RECENT_TAG#elements-}"
     VERSION="${RECENT_TAG#v}"
 else
     VERSION="$(git rev-parse --short=12 HEAD)"