diff --git a/control-center.spec.in b/control-center.spec.in
index 8c50ae17c..8bedd2573 100644
--- a/control-center.spec.in
+++ b/control-center.spec.in
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 # Note that this is NOT a relocatable package
 %define ver      @VERSION@
-%define rel      1
+%define  RELEASE 1
+%define  rel     %{?CUSTOM_RELEASE} %{!?CUSTOM_RELEASE:%RELEASE}
 %define prefix   /usr
 
 Summary: The GNOME control center.