diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index eb13d22..5a62492 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](http://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 - Migrated to github.com/golang-jwt/jwt to address a security vulnerability. [#78](https://github.com/xmidt-org/themis/pull/78)
+- Updated spec file and rpkg version macro to be able to choose when the 'v' is included in the version. [#80](https://github.com/xmidt-org/themis/pull/80)
 
 ## [v0.4.7]
 - Migrate to github actions, normalize analysis tools, Dockerfiles and Makefiles. [#67](https://github.com/xmidt-org/themis/pull/67)
diff --git a/deploy/packaging/themis.spec b/deploy/packaging/themis.spec
index 384c745..2bfd2bd 100644
--- a/deploy/packaging/themis.spec
+++ b/deploy/packaging/themis.spec
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 %define debug_package %{nil}
 
 Name:       themis
-Version:    {{{ git_tag_version }}}
+Version:    v{{{ git_tag_version }}}
 Release:    1%{?dist}
 Summary:    The Xmidt authentication JWT issuer for connecting devices in standalone mode.
 
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ Packager:   Comcast
 Group:      System Environment/Daemons
 License:    ASL 2.0
 URL:        https://github.com/xmidt-org/themis
-Source0:    %{name}-%{version}.tar.gz
+Source0:    https://github.com/xmidt-org/%{name}/archive/%{version}.tar.gz
 
 Prefix:     /opt
 BuildRoot:  %{_tmppath}/%{name}
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ BuildRequires: git
 The Xmidt authentication JWT issuer for connecting devices in standalone mode
 
 %prep
-%setup -q
+%setup -n %{name}-{{{ git_tag_version }}}
 
 %build
 GOPROXY=https://proxy.golang.org go build -ldflags "-linkmode=external -X 'main.BuildTime=`date -u '+%c'`' -X main.GitCommit={{{ git_short_hash }}} -X main.Version=%{version}" -o %{name} .
diff --git a/rpkg.macros b/rpkg.macros
index 45baa75..0e49be8 100644
--- a/rpkg.macros
+++ b/rpkg.macros
@@ -15,5 +15,9 @@ function git_tag_version {
         tag="$(git describe --tags --abbrev=0)"
     fi
 
+    # Remove the potential prefix of `v`
+    if [[ $tag =~ ^v[0-9].* ]]; then
+        tag="${tag:1}"
+    fi
     output "$tag"
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}