diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index b8bbd40..2958ae2 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@zen-browser/surfer",
-  "version": "1.8.3",
+  "version": "1.8.5",
   "description": "Simplifying building firefox forks!",
   "main": "index.js",
   "bin": {
diff --git a/src/commands/download/firefox.ts b/src/commands/download/firefox.ts
index be34e70..8d56589 100644
--- a/src/commands/download/firefox.ts
+++ b/src/commands/download/firefox.ts
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ import {
   resolveAddonDownloadUrl,
   unpackAddon,
 } from './addon'
-import { configPath, shouldUseCandidate } from '../../utils'
+import { configPath, getFFVersionOrCandidate, shouldUseCandidate } from '../../utils'
 import fs from 'fs-extra'
 
 export function shouldSetupFirefoxSource() {
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ async function unpackFirefoxSource(name: string): Promise<void> {
     ])
     const archiveDir = resolve(
       MELON_TMP_DIR,
-      'firefox-' + config.version.version
+      'firefox-' + getFFVersionOrCandidate()
     )
     if (existsSync(ENGINE_DIR)) {
       // remove the existing engine directory
diff --git a/src/commands/updates/browser.ts b/src/commands/updates/browser.ts
index 2683b64..0fe8e96 100644
--- a/src/commands/updates/browser.ts
+++ b/src/commands/updates/browser.ts
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import {
   dynamicConfig,
   ensureEmpty,
   generateHash,
+  getFFVersionOrCandidate,
   getSize,
   ReleaseInfo,
 } from '../../utils'
@@ -186,7 +187,7 @@ export async function generateBrowserUpdateFiles() {
         '@type': 'minor',
         '@displayVersion': version,
         '@appVersion': version,
-        '@platformVersion': config.version.version,
+        '@platformVersion': getFFVersionOrCandidate(),
         '@buildID': platform.Build.BuildID,
 
         patch: {
diff --git a/src/constants/mozconfig.ts b/src/constants/mozconfig.ts
index 4593636..7aee049 100644
--- a/src/constants/mozconfig.ts
+++ b/src/constants/mozconfig.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { config } from '..'
+import { getFFVersionOrCandidate } from '../utils'
 
 const otherBuildModes = `# You can change to other build modes by running:
 #   $ surfer set buildMode [dev|debug|release]`
@@ -48,7 +49,7 @@ ac_add_options --with-branding=browser/branding/${brand}
 ac_add_options --enable-unverified-updates
 ac_add_options --enable-update-channel=${brand}
 
-export ZEN_FIREFOX_VERSION=${config.version.version}
+export ZEN_FIREFOX_VERSION=${getFFVersionOrCandidate()}
 export MOZ_APPUPDATE_HOST=${
     config.updateHostname || 'localhost:7648 # This should not resolve'
   }
diff --git a/src/index.ts b/src/index.ts
index 0fcddd5..92218d2 100644
--- a/src/index.ts
+++ b/src/index.ts
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ import commander, { Command } from 'commander'
 import { existsSync, readFileSync } from 'node:fs'
 import { resolve } from 'node:path'
 
-import { errorHandler, config as configInited, versionFormatter } from './utils'
+import { errorHandler, config as configInited, versionFormatter, getFFVersionOrCandidate } from './utils'
 import { commands } from './cmds'
 import { BIN_NAME, ENGINE_DIR } from './constants'
 import { updateCheck } from './middleware/update-check'
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ if (existsSync(resolve(ENGINE_DIR, 'browser', 'config', 'version.txt'))) {
     .toString()
     .replace(/\n/g, '')
 
-  if (version !== config.version.version) reportedFFVersion = version
+  if (version !== getFFVersionOrCandidate()) reportedFFVersion = version
 }
 
 export const bin_name = BIN_NAME
diff --git a/src/utils/version.ts b/src/utils/version.ts
index 33e09d8..21506c1 100644
--- a/src/utils/version.ts
+++ b/src/utils/version.ts
@@ -20,6 +20,10 @@ export const shouldUseCandidate = (): boolean => {
   return brandingKey !== 'stable' && (config.version.version !== config.version.candidate);
 }
 
+export const getFFVersionOrCandidate = () => {
+  return shouldUseCandidate() ? config.version.candidate : config.version.version
+}
+
 export const getLatestFF = async (
   product: SupportedProducts = SupportedProducts.Firefox
 ): Promise<string> => {