diff --git a/contrib/print_electrum_version.py b/contrib/print_electrum_version.py
index 4e9aba79f..1e10bfd02 100755
--- a/contrib/print_electrum_version.py
+++ b/contrib/print_electrum_version.py
@@ -1,15 +1,25 @@
 #!/usr/bin/python3
 # For usage in shell, to get the version of electrum, without needing electrum installed.
+# usage: ./print_electrum_version.py [<attr_name>]
+#
 # For example:
 # $ VERSION=$("$CONTRIB"/print_electrum_version.py)
+# $ VERSION=$("$CONTRIB"/print_electrum_version.py APK_VERSION)
 # instead of
 # $ VERSION=$(python3 -c "import electrum; print(electrum.version.ELECTRUM_VERSION)")
+# $ VERSION=$(python3 -c "import electrum; print(electrum.version.APK_VERSION)")
 
 import importlib.util
 import os
+import sys
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
+    if len(sys.argv) >= 2:
+        attr_name = sys.argv[1]
+    else:
+        attr_name = "ELECTRUM_VERSION"
+
     project_root = os.path.abspath(os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(__file__)))
     version_file_path = os.path.join(project_root, "electrum", "version.py")
 
@@ -18,5 +28,6 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
     version_module = version = importlib.util.module_from_spec(version_spec)
     version_spec.loader.exec_module(version_module)
 
-    print(version.ELECTRUM_VERSION)
+    attr_val = getattr(version, attr_name)
+    print(attr_val, file=sys.stdout)
 
diff --git a/contrib/release.sh b/contrib/release.sh
index 1869dedc5..45f0d837e 100755
--- a/contrib/release.sh
+++ b/contrib/release.sh
@@ -80,7 +80,9 @@ fi
 
 
 VERSION=$("$CONTRIB"/print_electrum_version.py)
+APK_VERSION=$("$CONTRIB"/print_electrum_version.py APK_VERSION)
 info "VERSION: $VERSION"
+info "APK_VERSION: $APK_VERSION"
 REV=$(git describe --tags)
 info "REV: $REV"
 COMMIT=$(git rev-parse HEAD)
@@ -147,8 +149,8 @@ fi
 # android
 for arch in armeabi-v7a arm64-v8a x86_64
 do
-    apk="Electrum-$VERSION.0-$arch-release.apk"
-    apk_unsigned="Electrum-$VERSION.0-$arch-release-unsigned.apk"
+    apk="Electrum-$APK_VERSION-$arch-release.apk"
+    apk_unsigned="Electrum-$APK_VERSION-$arch-release-unsigned.apk"
     if test -f "dist/$apk"; then
         info "file exists: $apk"
     else