diff --git a/kex.c b/kex.c
index 34808b5c..88d7ccac 100644
--- a/kex.c
+++ b/kex.c
@@ -1126,7 +1126,7 @@ kex_exchange_identification(struct ssh *ssh, int timeout_ms,
 	if (version_addendum != NULL && *version_addendum == '\0')
 		version_addendum = NULL;
 	if ((r = sshbuf_putf(our_version, "SSH-%d.%d-%.100s%s%s\r\n",
-	   PROTOCOL_MAJOR_2, PROTOCOL_MINOR_2, SSH_VERSION,
+	   PROTOCOL_MAJOR_2, PROTOCOL_MINOR_2, SSH_RELEASE,
 	    version_addendum == NULL ? "" : " ",
 	    version_addendum == NULL ? "" : version_addendum)) != 0) {
 		error("%s: sshbuf_putf: %s", __func__, ssh_err(r));