diff --git a/contrib/packaging/buildrpm b/contrib/packaging/buildrpm
index 83dd656586b14a06b1b7e0fa57ab2a801eab3da5_Y29udHJpYi9wYWNrYWdpbmcvYnVpbGRycG0=..164abbe9d8ee6aff41b4ec0e3e27a50a4125e543_Y29udHJpYi9wYWNrYWdpbmcvYnVpbGRycG0= 100755
--- a/contrib/packaging/buildrpm
+++ b/contrib/packaging/buildrpm
@@ -50,8 +50,6 @@
 
 gethgversion
 
-# TODO: handle distance/node set, and type set
-
 if [ -z "$type" ] ; then
    release=1
 else
@@ -59,7 +57,7 @@
 fi
 
 if [ -n "$distance" ] ; then
-    release=$release+$distance_$node
+    release=$release+${distance}_${node}
 fi
 
 if [ "$PYTHONVER" ]; then