gistfile1.txt

diff --git a/build/Makefile.in b/build/Makefile.in
index 3c8c117..cc7d920 100644
--- a/build/Makefile.in
+++ b/build/Makefile.in
@@ -387,8 +387,10 @@ manifest:
        find t/spec -type f >>MANIFEST
        sort -u -o MANIFEST MANIFEST
 
+# Make will use this value unless VERSION was specified on the command line
+VERSION=$(shell date +"%Y-%m")
+
 release: manifest
-       [ -n "$(VERSION)" ] || ( echo "\nTry 'make release VERSION=yyyymm'\n\n"; exit 1 )
        [ -d rakudo-$(VERSION) ] || ln -s . rakudo-$(VERSION)
        $(PERL) -ne 'print "rakudo-$(VERSION)/$$_"' MANIFEST | \
            tar -zcv -T - -f rakudo-$(VERSION).tar.gz