diff --git a/acmc/phen.py b/acmc/phen.py
index ec675c2eee0d0683c7d772aad2dc0667d0035647..68316f4aa54169364a3d1d4c4b8172f4d26b172f 100644
--- a/acmc/phen.py
+++ b/acmc/phen.py
@@ -972,12 +972,14 @@ def _generate_version_tag(
     # Get all valid semantic version tags
     versions = []
     for tag in repo.tags:
-        tag_name = (
-            tag.name.lstrip("v") if use_v_prefix else tag.name
-        )  # Remove 'v' if needed
+        if tag.name.startswith("v"):
+            tag_name = tag.name[1:]  # Remove the first character
+        else:
+            tag_name = tag.name
         if semver.Version.is_valid(tag_name):
             versions.append(semver.Version.parse(tag_name))
 
+    _logger.debug(f"Versions: {versions}")
     # Determine the next version
     if not versions:
         new_version = semver.Version(0, 0, 1)