diff --git a/releasetools/release.sh b/releasetools/release.sh
index 38343ce3e..9b3e4b59d 100755
--- a/releasetools/release.sh
+++ b/releasetools/release.sh
@@ -13,6 +13,10 @@ SRC=src
 : ${GITBRANCH:=master}
 : ${BUILDOPTIONS:=}
 
+# Packages we have to pre-install, and url to use
+: ${PACKAGEURL="http://www.minix3.org/pkgsrc/packages/$version_pretty/`uname -m`/All/"}
+: ${PREINSTALLED_PACKAGES:="pkg_install pkgin"}
+
 # List of packages included on installation media
 PACKAGELIST=packages.install
 secs=`expr 32 '*' 64`
@@ -26,15 +30,6 @@ then	echo Please install pkg_install from pkgsrc.
 	exit 1
 fi
 
-# Packages we have to pre-install, and url to use
-PACKAGEURL=http://www.minix3.org/pkgsrc/packages/$version_pretty/`uname -m`/All/
-PREINSTALLED_PACKAGES="
-	pkg_install
-	pkgin
-	"
-
-PKG_ADD_URL=$PACKAGEURL
-
 RELEASERC=$HOME/.releaserc
 
 if [ -f $RELEASERC ]
@@ -100,9 +95,9 @@ do
 		;;
 	M)	MAKEMAP=1
 		;;
-	l)	PKG_ADD_URL=file://$PACKAGEDIR/All
+	l)	PACKAGEURL=file://$PACKAGEDIR/All
 		;;
-	L)	PKG_ADD_URL="$OPTARG"
+	L)	PACKAGEURL="$OPTARG"
 		CUSTOM_PACKAGES=1
 		;;
 	e)	EXTRAS_INSTALL=1
@@ -203,12 +198,12 @@ date >$RELEASEDIR/CD
 rm -f $RELEASEDIR/usr/$SRC/releasetools/revision
 
 for p in $PREINSTALLED_PACKAGES
-do	echo " * Pre-installing: $p from $PKG_ADD_URL"
-    $PKG_ADD -f -P $RELEASEDIR $PKG_ADD_URL/$p
+do	echo " * Pre-installing: $p from $PACKAGEURL"
+    $PKG_ADD -f -P $RELEASEDIR $PACKAGEURL/$p
 done
 
 if [ "$CUSTOM_PACKAGES" ]
-then	echo $PKG_ADD_URL >$RELEASEDIR/usr/pkg/etc/pkgin/repositories.conf
+then	echo $PACKAGEURL >$RELEASEDIR/usr/pkg/etc/pkgin/repositories.conf
 fi
 
 echo " * Resetting timestamps"