diff --git a/dev-tools/jenkins_release.sh b/dev-tools/jenkins_release.sh
index 49943efc67b..4f1b28e0802 100755
--- a/dev-tools/jenkins_release.sh
+++ b/dev-tools/jenkins_release.sh
@@ -16,4 +16,10 @@ cleanup() {
 }
 trap cleanup EXIT
 
+# This controls the defaults used the Jenkins package job. They can be
+# overridden by setting them in the environement prior to running this script.
+export BEAT_VERSION_QUALIFIER="${VERSION_QUALIFIER:-alpha1}"
+export SNAPSHOT="${SNAPSHOT:-true}"
+export PLATFORMS="${PLATFORMS:-+linux/armv7 +linux/ppc64le +linux/s390x +linux/mips64}"
+
 make release