diff --git a/packaging/rpm/ja4sentinel.spec b/packaging/rpm/ja4sentinel.spec
index 541f552..dcd6436 100644
--- a/packaging/rpm/ja4sentinel.spec
+++ b/packaging/rpm/ja4sentinel.spec
@@ -1,3 +1,11 @@
+# Version macro must be defined BEFORE it's used in Version: field
+# Override from command line: rpmbuild --define "build_version X.Y.Z"
+%if %{defined build_version}
+%define spec_version %{build_version}
+%else
+%define spec_version 1.0.4
+%endif
+
 Name:           ja4sentinel
 Version:        %{spec_version}
 Release:        1%{?dist}
@@ -6,13 +14,6 @@ License:        MIT
 URL:            https://github.com/your-repo/ja4sentinel
 BuildArch:      x86_64
 
-# Override version from command line: rpmbuild --define "build_version X.Y.Z"
-%if %{defined build_version}
-%define spec_version %{build_version}
-%else
-%define spec_version 1.0.4
-%endif
-
 # Distribution-agnostic dependencies
 # systemd is available on all target distros (Rocky 8/9/10, AlmaLinux)
 Requires:       systemd