diff --git a/maven-resolver-util/src/main/java/org/eclipse/aether/util/version/GenericVersion.java b/maven-resolver-util/src/main/java/org/eclipse/aether/util/version/GenericVersion.java
index a363058..d1d1fbf 100644
--- a/maven-resolver-util/src/main/java/org/eclipse/aether/util/version/GenericVersion.java
+++ b/maven-resolver-util/src/main/java/org/eclipse/aether/util/version/GenericVersion.java
@@ -198,6 +198,7 @@
             QUALIFIERS.put( "snapshot", -1 );
             QUALIFIERS.put( "ga", 0 );
             QUALIFIERS.put( "final", 0 );
+            QUALIFIERS.put( "release", 0 );
             QUALIFIERS.put( "", 0 );
             QUALIFIERS.put( "sp", 1 );
         }
diff --git a/maven-resolver-util/src/test/java/org/eclipse/aether/util/version/GenericVersionTest.java b/maven-resolver-util/src/test/java/org/eclipse/aether/util/version/GenericVersionTest.java
index ae891af..8d058e4 100644
--- a/maven-resolver-util/src/test/java/org/eclipse/aether/util/version/GenericVersionTest.java
+++ b/maven-resolver-util/src/test/java/org/eclipse/aether/util/version/GenericVersionTest.java
@@ -168,6 +168,7 @@
         assertOrder( X_EQ_Y, "A", "A.ga.ga" );
         assertOrder( X_EQ_Y, "A", "A-ga-ga" );
         assertOrder( X_EQ_Y, "1", "1-final" );
+        assertOrder( X_EQ_Y, "1", "1-release" );
         assertOrder( X_LT_Y, "1", "1-sp" );
 
         assertOrder( X_LT_Y, "A.rc.1", "A.ga.1" );
@@ -251,6 +252,8 @@
         assertOrder( X_EQ_Y, "1.ga", "1.Ga" );
         assertOrder( X_EQ_Y, "1.final", "1.FINAL" );
         assertOrder( X_EQ_Y, "1.final", "1.Final" );
+        assertOrder( X_EQ_Y, "1.release", "1.RELEASE" );
+        assertOrder( X_EQ_Y, "1.release", "1.Release" );
 
         assertOrder( X_EQ_Y, "1.sp", "1.SP" );
         assertOrder( X_EQ_Y, "1.sp", "1.Sp" );