diff --git a/doRelease.go b/doRelease.go
index a78602e..13e5208 100644
--- a/doRelease.go
+++ b/doRelease.go
@@ -147,13 +147,22 @@ func doPublishVersion() bool {
 		log.Info("go.sum must exist here")
 		me.release.guireleaser.Status.MakeRedomod()
 	}
-	os.Unsetenv("GO111MODULE")
-	log.Info("TRYING TO SELF UPDATE HERE. cmd =", cmd)
-	err, out := me.release.guireleaser.Status.RunCmd(cmd)
-	if gopath == "go.wit.com/apps/guireleaser" {
-		// ignore errors on updating myself
-		log.Info("IGNORE SELF UPDATE ERROR. cmd =", cmd)
+	var err error
+	var out string
+	if me.current.Status.IsPrivate() {
+		// do not self update private repos
 		err = nil
+		out = "This is a private repo and can not be self checked"
+	} else {
+		// publish go.mod & go.sum for use with go
+		os.Unsetenv("GO111MODULE")
+		log.Info("TRYING TO SELF UPDATE HERE. cmd =", cmd)
+		err, out = me.release.guireleaser.Status.RunCmd(cmd)
+		if gopath == "go.wit.com/apps/guireleaser" {
+			// ignore errors on updating myself
+			log.Info("IGNORE SELF UPDATE ERROR. cmd =", cmd)
+			err = nil
+		}
 	}
 	if err == nil {
 		log.Info("SELF UPDATE OK. out =", out)
diff --git a/setTargetVersion.go b/setTargetVersion.go
index cf1090c..53d0abc 100644
--- a/setTargetVersion.go
+++ b/setTargetVersion.go
@@ -30,7 +30,13 @@ func setTargetVersion() {
 		if repo.GoPath() == "go.wit.com/widget" {
 			repo.Status.SetTargetVersion("v" + widgetVersion)
 		} else {
-			repo.Status.SetTargetVersion("v" + releaseVersion)
+			prefix := "v" + releaseVersion
+			lasttag := repo.Status.LastTag()
+			if strings.HasPrefix(lasttag, prefix) {
+				repo.Status.SetTargetVersion(lasttag)
+			} else {
+				repo.Status.SetTargetVersion(prefix)
+			}
 		}
 		if strings.HasPrefix(repo.GoPath(), "go.wit.com/dev/") {
 			lasttag := repo.Status.GetLastTagVersion()