diff --git a/createhdds.py b/createhdds.py
index 88bd756..d7ea224 100755
--- a/createhdds.py
+++ b/createhdds.py
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ class VirtInstallImage(object):
         if shortid not in out:
             # this will just use the most recent rocky release number
             # virt-install / osinfo knows
-            shortid = "rocky{0}".format(release).split('.')[0] + "-unknown"
+            shortid = "rocky{0}".format(self.release).split('.')[0] + "-unknown"
 
         # destroy and delete the domain we use for all virt-installs
         conn = libvirt.open()