diff --git a/.github/workflows/build.yml b/.github/workflows/build.yml
index 9d251b05..7d0bc1c1 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build.yml
@@ -308,7 +308,7 @@ jobs:
         apt-get source -d jackd2
         tar xf *.debian.tar.xz
         rm -rf debian/source
-        dch -M -b -v "$(cat wscript | awk 'sub("VERSION=","")' | tr -d "'")~$(date +"%Y%m%d")git${{ github.event.pull_request.number || steps.slug.outputs.sha8 }}" -D focal "automated build"
+        dch -M -b -v "$(cat wscript | awk 'sub("^VERSION = ","")' | tr -d "'")~$(date +"%Y%m%d")git${{ github.event.pull_request.number || steps.slug.outputs.sha8 }}" -D focal "automated build"
         debuild -rfakeroot --no-lintian || true
     - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v2
       with: