diff --git a/Makefile.common b/Makefile.common
index 1f4c9025..0a86218e 100644
--- a/Makefile.common
+++ b/Makefile.common
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ common-docker-publish: $(PUBLISH_DOCKER_ARCHS)
 $(PUBLISH_DOCKER_ARCHS): common-docker-publish-%:
 	docker push "$(DOCKER_REPO)/$(DOCKER_IMAGE_NAME)-linux-$*:$(SANITIZED_DOCKER_IMAGE_TAG)"
 
-DOCKER_MAJOR_VERSION_TAG = $(firstword $(subst ., ,$(shell cat VERSION)))
+DOCKER_MAJOR_VERSION_TAG = $(firstword $(subst ., ,$(shell cat VERSION.txt)))
 .PHONY: common-docker-tag-latest $(TAG_DOCKER_ARCHS)
 common-docker-tag-latest: $(TAG_DOCKER_ARCHS)
 $(TAG_DOCKER_ARCHS): common-docker-tag-latest-%:
diff --git a/RELEASE.md b/RELEASE.md
index 066a36e2..9cbdf412 100644
--- a/RELEASE.md
+++ b/RELEASE.md
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ Make sure the release is ready to go, with an updated changelog including notice
 
 Here are the basic steps:
 
-1. Update VERSION, applying the next logical version number, without any `v` prefix (e.g.  `0.53.0`).
+1. Update VERSION.txt, applying the next logical version number, without any `v` prefix (e.g.  `0.53.0`).
 2. Update CHANGELOG.md, applying the new version number (this time including the `v` prefix, e.g. `v0.53.0`) and date to the changes listed under ``## main / unreleased`, and commit those changes to the main branch.
 2. Use GitHub's release feature via [this link](https://github.com/prometheus/prometheus/releases/new) to apply a new tag. The tag name must be prefixed with a `v` e.g. `v0.53.0` and then use the "Generate release notes" button to generate the release notes automagically ✨. No need to create a discussion or mark it a pre-release, please do make sure it is marked as the latest release.
 
diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION.txt
similarity index 100%
rename from VERSION
rename to VERSION.txt