diff --git a/news/ac1c4196-d21d-4e39-9d39-118e39c837ab.trivial b/news/ac1c4196-d21d-4e39-9d39-118e39c837ab.trivial
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e69de29bb
diff --git a/tools/automation/release/check_version.py b/tools/automation/release/check_version.py
index db02e7aef..e89d1b5ba 100644
--- a/tools/automation/release/check_version.py
+++ b/tools/automation/release/check_version.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ def is_this_a_good_version_number(string: str) -> Optional[str]:
     if v.dev:
         return "No development releases on PyPI. What are you even thinking?"
 
-    if v.is_prerelease and v.pre[0] != "b":
+    if v.pre and v.pre[0] != "b":
         return "Only beta releases are allowed. No alphas."
 
     release = v.release