diff --git a/build-support/bin/release.sh b/build-support/bin/release.sh
index ce0efef8a04..27fb53d3a8f 100755
--- a/build-support/bin/release.sh
+++ b/build-support/bin/release.sh
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ function build_pex() {
     -o "${dest}" \
     --no-strip-pex-env \
     --script=pants \
-    --venv \
+    --unzip \
     "${distribution_target_flags[@]}" \
     "${requirements[@]}"