diff --git a/tools/build-release-tarball b/tools/build-release-tarball
index 1053f26cd6..ad7aa392a0 100755
--- a/tools/build-release-tarball
+++ b/tools/build-release-tarball
@@ -105,14 +105,15 @@ ln -nfs "$BUILD_PROD_STATIC_LOGPATH" "$USER_PROD_STATIC_LOGPATH"
     echo -e "Check ${TMPDIR}/update-prod-static.log for more information.\033[0m"
     exit 1
 )
-echo "$GITID" > build_id
-echo "$version" > version
 rm -f "$USER_PROD_STATIC_LOGPATH"
 mv "$BUILD_PROD_STATIC_LOGPATH" "$USER_PROD_STATIC_LOGPATH"
 
 # We don't need duplicate copies of emoji with hashed paths, and they would break bugdown
 find prod-static/serve/generated/emoji/images/emoji/ -regex '.*\.[0-9a-f]+\.png' -delete
 
+echo "$GITID" > build_id
+echo "$version" > version
+
 cd "$TMPDIR"
 
 tar --append -f "$TARBALL" "$prefix/prod-static" "$prefix/build_id" "$prefix/version" "$prefix/staticfiles.json" "$prefix/templates/zerver/emails/compiled" "$prefix/webpack-stats-production.json"