diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yaml b/.github/workflows/release.yaml
index b1b585c4b..f30ffaded 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yaml
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ jobs:
           MACOS_NOTARY_KEY: ${{ secrets.MACOS_NOTARY_KEY }}
           MACOS_NOTARY_KEY_ID: ${{ secrets.MACOS_NOTARY_KEY_ID }}
           MACOS_NOTARY_ISSUER_ID: ${{ secrets.MACOS_NOTARY_ISSUER_ID }}
-        run: make release-launcher-darwin
+        run: make release-launcher-darwin LAUNCHER_APP_VERSION="${GITHUB_REF_NAME#v}"
       - name: Upload DMG to Release
         uses: softprops/action-gh-release@v3
         with:
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 1f25e246c..cd8456c76 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ GOTEST=$(GOCMD) test
 GOVET=$(GOCMD) vet
 BINARY_NAME=local-ai
 LAUNCHER_BINARY_NAME=local-ai-launcher
+LAUNCHER_APP_VERSION?=0.0.0
 
 UBUNTU_VERSION?=2404
 UBUNTU_CODENAME?=noble
@@ -1603,7 +1604,7 @@ site-serve: site
 build-launcher-darwin:
 	rm -rf dist/LocalAI.app cmd/launcher/LocalAI.app
 	mkdir -p dist
-	cd cmd/launcher && go run fyne.io/tools/cmd/fyne@latest package -os darwin -icon ../../core/http/static/logo.png --executable $(LAUNCHER_BINARY_NAME)
+	cd cmd/launcher && go run fyne.io/tools/cmd/fyne@latest package -os darwin -icon ../../core/http/static/logo.png --app-version $(LAUNCHER_APP_VERSION) --executable $(LAUNCHER_BINARY_NAME)
 	mv cmd/launcher/LocalAI.app dist/LocalAI.app
 	bash contrib/macos/sign-and-notarize.sh sign dist/LocalAI.app
 
diff --git a/scripts/build/launcher-release-version_test.sh b/scripts/build/launcher-release-version_test.sh
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..09be054ff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/build/launcher-release-version_test.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+ROOT=$(dirname "$(dirname "$(dirname "$(realpath "$0")")")")
+MAKEFILE="$ROOT/Makefile"
+WORKFLOW="$ROOT/.github/workflows/release.yaml"
+
+dry_run=$(make -n -f "$MAKEFILE" build-launcher-darwin LAUNCHER_APP_VERSION=9.8.7)
+if ! grep -Fq -- '--app-version 9.8.7' <<<"$dry_run"; then
+  echo "FAIL: macOS launcher packaging does not pass LAUNCHER_APP_VERSION to Fyne"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+if ! grep -Fq -- 'LAUNCHER_APP_VERSION="${GITHUB_REF_NAME#v}"' "$WORKFLOW"; then
+  echo "FAIL: release workflow does not derive the launcher app version from the tag"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+echo "PASS: macOS launcher releases stamp the tag-derived app version"