diff --git a/koji_forgejo_webhook.py b/koji_forgejo_webhook.py
index 87cd743..d86f7ad 100644
--- a/koji_forgejo_webhook.py
+++ b/koji_forgejo_webhook.py
@@ -27,7 +27,8 @@ class KojiProcessor:
     def __init__(self):
         pass
 
-    def koji_build_shell(self, build_target: str, git_url: str, scratch: bool = True, nowait: bool = True) -> str:
+    def koji_build_shell(self, build_target: str, git_url: str,
+                         scratch: bool = True, nowait: bool = True) -> str:
         result = {"out": "", "err": ""}
 
         # Construct the koji build command
@@ -124,8 +125,12 @@ class ForgejoWebhookProcessor:
 
             git_url = f"git+{clone_url}#{commit_id}"
 
+            scratch = True
+            if 'release' in ref.lower():
+                scratch = False
+
             if app.config.get('KOJI_USE_SHELL'):
-                result = KojiProcessor().koji_build_shell(app.config['KOJI_TARGET'], git_url)
+                result = KojiProcessor().koji_build_shell(app.config['KOJI_TARGET'], git_url, scratch=scratch)
             else:
                 result = KojiProcessor().koji_build(app.config['KOJI_SERVER'], app.config['KOJI_TARGET'], git_url)