diff --git a/docs/_config.yml b/docs/_config.yml
index f6b27729..75fedad5 100644
--- a/docs/_config.yml
+++ b/docs/_config.yml
@@ -45,8 +45,9 @@ remote_theme: rundocs/jekyll-rtd-theme@v2.0.9
 version: master
 display_version_list: true
 
-# Release is used to make external links to point to the correct blobs in the
-# Github repo
+# Release is the full released version number. Used to make external links to
+# point to the correct blobs in the Github repo. This is also the version shown
+# in the sidebar (top left corner of the page)
 release: master
 
 # Container image which to point to in the documentation
diff --git a/docs/_includes/class/sidebar-wrap.liquid b/docs/_includes/class/sidebar-wrap.liquid
index e2a7340a..e7fdcce2 100644
--- a/docs/_includes/class/sidebar-wrap.liquid
+++ b/docs/_includes/class/sidebar-wrap.liquid
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
                     <i class="fa fa-home"></i> {{ site.title }}
                 </a>
             </div>
-            <span class="version">{{ site.version }}</span>
+            <span class="version">{{ site.release }}</span>
             <form class="search pt-2" action="{{ site.baseurl }}/search.html" method="get" autocomplete="off">
                 <input class="form-control input-block input-sm" type="text" name="q" placeholder="{{ __.search_docs | default: 'Search docs...' }}">
             </form>