diff --git a/tools/packaging/release/update-repository-version.sh b/tools/packaging/release/update-repository-version.sh
index e9aa29fa73..dd4a3b9a16 100755
--- a/tools/packaging/release/update-repository-version.sh
+++ b/tools/packaging/release/update-repository-version.sh
@@ -13,7 +13,8 @@ readonly script_dir="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
 readonly script_name="$(basename "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")"
 
 readonly tmp_dir=$(mktemp -t -d pr-bump.XXXX)
-readonly organization="kata-containers"
+OWNER="${OWNER:-kata-containers}"
+readonly organization="$OWNER"
 PUSH="false"
 GOPATH=${GOPATH:-${HOME}/go}