diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 700add7a6b..f58fa15e05 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -326,7 +326,6 @@ make compatibility-check
 - Ensure the referenced specification version is up to date. Use
   [tooling to update the spec](#updating-the-referenced-specification-version)
   if needed.
-- Update `LASTEST_RELEASED_SEMCONV_VERSION` in `Makefile` to the new version you're about to release.
 - Create a staging branch for the release.
   - Update `schema-next.yaml` file and move to `schemas/{version}`
     - Ensure the `next` version is appropriately configured as the `{version}`.
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 5b6c5def91..4e8250f399 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -15,8 +15,6 @@ CHLOGGEN_CONFIG  := .chloggen/config.yaml
 # Keep links in model/README.md and .vscode/settings.json in sync!
 SEMCONVGEN_VERSION=0.24.0
 
-LASTEST_RELEASED_SEMCONV_VERSION=1.25.0
-
 # TODO: add `yamllint` step to `all` after making sure it works on Mac.
 .PHONY: all
 all: install-tools markdownlint markdown-link-check misspell table-check compatibility-check schema-check \
@@ -105,10 +103,11 @@ table-check:
 	docker run --rm -v $(PWD)/model:/source -v $(PWD)/docs:/spec \
 		otel/semconvgen:$(SEMCONVGEN_VERSION) -f /source markdown -md /spec --md-check
 
+LATEST_RELEASED_SEMCONV_VERSION := $(shell git describe --tags --abbrev=0 | sed 's/v//g')
 .PHONY: compatibility-check
 compatibility-check:
 	docker run --rm -v $(PWD)/model:/source -v $(PWD)/docs:/spec \
-		otel/semconvgen:$(SEMCONVGEN_VERSION) -f /source compatibility --previous-version ${LASTEST_RELEASED_SEMCONV_VERSION} --ignore-warnings
+		otel/semconvgen:$(SEMCONVGEN_VERSION) -f /source compatibility --previous-version $(LATEST_RELEASED_SEMCONV_VERSION)
 
 .PHONY: schema-check
 schema-check: