diff --git a/leap-upgrades/lib/functions.sh b/leap-upgrades/lib/functions.sh
index 67234cf4..81433857 100644
--- a/leap-upgrades/lib/functions.sh
+++ b/leap-upgrades/lib/functions.sh
@@ -52,6 +52,19 @@ function check_for_todolist {
   fi
 }
 
+function check_for_release {
+  if [[ -v RELEASE ]]; then
+    notice "RELEASE is set, continuing..."
+  else
+    notice "Please export RELEASE variable before continuing"
+    notice "This variable reflects the release version being leaped"
+    notice "from.  i.e. value of KILO_RELEASE, LIBERTY_RELEASE, etc."
+    notice ""
+    notice "example: export RELEASE=\"liberty-eol\""
+    exit 99
+  fi
+}
+
 function run_lock {
 
   set +e
diff --git a/leap-upgrades/migrations.sh b/leap-upgrades/migrations.sh
index eeeec7cf..ad6ece7f 100755
--- a/leap-upgrades/migrations.sh
+++ b/leap-upgrades/migrations.sh
@@ -24,11 +24,14 @@ source lib/functions.sh
 ## Ensure UPGRADES_TO_TODOLIST is set
 check_for_todolist
 
+## Ensure RELEASE is set
+check_for_release
+
 ### Run the DB migrations
 # Stop the services to ensure DB and application consistency
 if [[ ! -f "/opt/leap42/openstack-ansible-poweroff.leap" ]]; then
   if [ -e "/opt/openstack-ansible" ]; then
-    link_release "/opt/leap42/openstack-ansible-${KILO_RELEASE}"
+    link_release "/opt/leap42/openstack-ansible-${RELEASE}"
   fi
   RUN_TASKS=()
   RUN_TASKS+=("${UPGRADE_UTILS}/power-down.yml")