diff --git a/.github/workflows/staging-release.yaml b/.github/workflows/staging-release.yaml
index 3bc77957ba6..b0769abc5c2 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/staging-release.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/staging-release.yaml
@@ -391,6 +391,8 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           ./packaging/test-release-packages.sh
         shell: bash
+        env:
+          VERSION_TO_CHECK_FOR: ${{ github.event.inputs.version }}
 
   staging-release-smoke-test-containers:
     name: Run container smoke tests
diff --git a/packaging/test-release-packages.sh b/packaging/test-release-packages.sh
index 37a00cfbbcb..87139368b50 100755
--- a/packaging/test-release-packages.sh
+++ b/packaging/test-release-packages.sh
@@ -11,6 +11,18 @@ fi
 CONTAINER_RUNTIME=${CONTAINER_RUNTIME:-docker}
 INSTALL_SCRIPT=${INSTALL_SCRIPT:-https://raw.githubusercontent.com/fluent/fluent-bit/master/install.sh}
 
+# Optional check for specific version
+VERSION_TO_CHECK_FOR=${VERSION_TO_CHECK_FOR:-}
+function check_version() {
+    if [[ -n "$VERSION_TO_CHECK_FOR" ]]; then
+        local LOG_FILE=$1
+        if ! grep -q "$VERSION_TO_CHECK_FOR" "$LOG_FILE"; then
+            echo "WARNING: Not using expected version: $VERSION_TO_CHECK_FOR"
+            exit 1
+        fi
+    fi
+}
+
 APT_TARGETS=("ubuntu:18.04"
     "ubuntu:20.04"
     "ubuntu:22.04"
@@ -26,19 +38,25 @@ YUM_TARGETS=("centos:7"
 for IMAGE in "${APT_TARGETS[@]}"
 do
     echo "Testing $IMAGE"
+    LOG_FILE=$(mktemp)
     $CONTAINER_RUNTIME run --rm -t \
         -e FLUENT_BIT_PACKAGES_URL="${FLUENT_BIT_PACKAGES_URL:-https://packages.fluentbit.io}" \
         -e FLUENT_BIT_PACKAGES_KEY="${FLUENT_BIT_PACKAGES_KEY:-https://packages.fluentbit.io/fluentbit.key}" \
         "$IMAGE" \
-        sh -c "apt-get update && apt-get install -y sudo gpg curl;curl $INSTALL_SCRIPT | sh"
+        sh -c "apt-get update && apt-get install -y sudo gpg curl;curl $INSTALL_SCRIPT | sh && /opt/fluent-bit/bin/fluent-bit --version" | tee "$LOG_FILE"
+    check_version "$LOG_FILE"
+    rm -f "$LOG_FILE"
 done
 
 for IMAGE in "${YUM_TARGETS[@]}"
 do
     echo "Testing $IMAGE"
+    LOG_FILE=$(mktemp)
     $CONTAINER_RUNTIME run --rm -t \
         -e FLUENT_BIT_PACKAGES_URL="${FLUENT_BIT_PACKAGES_URL:-https://packages.fluentbit.io}" \
         -e FLUENT_BIT_PACKAGES_KEY="${FLUENT_BIT_PACKAGES_KEY:-https://packages.fluentbit.io/fluentbit.key}" \
         "$IMAGE" \
-        sh -c "yum install -y sudo;curl $INSTALL_SCRIPT | sh"
+        sh -c "yum install -y sudo;curl $INSTALL_SCRIPT | sh && /opt/fluent-bit/bin/fluent-bit --version" | tee "$LOG_FILE"
+    check_version "$LOG_FILE"
+    rm -f "$LOG_FILE"
 done