diff --git a/.github/workflows/functional.yml b/.github/workflows/functional.yml
index d657b03947..4ae12874a8 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/functional.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/functional.yml
@@ -115,8 +115,8 @@ jobs:
       - name: Wait for release to exist
         run: |
           REF=${{ github.ref_name }}
-          until docker pull ghcr.io/nginxinc/nginx-gateway-fabric:${REF#v}; do sleep 5; done
-          until docker pull ghcr.io/nginxinc/nginx-gateway-fabric/nginx:${REF#v}; do sleep 5; done
+          until docker pull ghcr.io/nginxinc/nginx-gateway-fabric:${REF}; do sleep 5; done
+          until docker pull ghcr.io/nginxinc/nginx-gateway-fabric/nginx:${REF}; do sleep 5; done
 
       - name: Setup functional tests
         id: setup