diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index ec88b80a0..6495993ed 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ gen_authopt_path := "$(go_bin)/protoc-gen-authoption"
 gen_zitadel_path := "$(go_bin)/protoc-gen-zitadel"
 
 now := $(shell date --rfc-3339=seconds | sed 's/ /T/')
-VERSION ?= development
+VERSION ?= development-$(now)
 COMMIT_SHA ?= $(shell git rev-parse HEAD)
 
 .PHONY: compile