diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index e153b25..d13a7a7 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -51,6 +51,9 @@ test-results/
 # Test artifacts
 packaging/test/*.rpm
 
+# Build artifacts
+packages/
+
 # Binary (root level only)
 /ja4sentinel
 ja4sentinel-linux-amd64
diff --git a/Dockerfile.package b/Dockerfile.package
index 55f139e..136b353 100644
--- a/Dockerfile.package
+++ b/Dockerfile.package
@@ -52,6 +52,9 @@ FROM rockylinux:9 AS rpm-builder
 
 WORKDIR /package
 
+# VERSION must be redeclared for each stage that needs it
+ARG VERSION=1.0.0
+
 # Install fpm and rpm tools (Rocky Linux 9)
 # fpm does not require libpcap - only needed for building the Go binary
 RUN dnf install -y \