diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-cut.yml b/.github/workflows/release-cut.yml
index 4890c0db02e..977bd6b5d21 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release-cut.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-cut.yml
@@ -822,7 +822,10 @@ jobs:
           TAG: ${{ needs.cut.outputs.tag }}
         run: |
           set -euo pipefail
-          if [[ "$TAG" =~ ^v[0-9]+\.[0-9]+\.[0-9]+-rc\.[0-9]+$ ]]; then
+          # Why the optional trailing identifier: suffixed side-branch RCs
+          # (vX.Y.Z-rc.N.perf) are rc-channel prerelease builds — same telemetry
+          # identity as plain RCs.
+          if [[ "$TAG" =~ ^v[0-9]+\.[0-9]+\.[0-9]+-rc\.[0-9]+(\.[0-9A-Za-z]+)?$ ]]; then
             identity=rc
           elif [[ "$TAG" =~ ^v[0-9]+\.[0-9]+\.[0-9]+$ ]]; then
             identity=stable
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-mac-build.yml b/.github/workflows/release-mac-build.yml
index e82502baa47..3638d40f00c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release-mac-build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-mac-build.yml
@@ -96,7 +96,10 @@ jobs:
           TAG: ${{ inputs.tag }}
         run: |
           set -euo pipefail
-          if [[ "$TAG" =~ ^v[0-9]+\.[0-9]+\.[0-9]+-rc\.[0-9]+$ ]]; then
+          # Why the optional trailing identifier: suffixed side-branch RCs
+          # (vX.Y.Z-rc.N.perf) are rc-channel prerelease builds — same telemetry
+          # identity as plain RCs.
+          if [[ "$TAG" =~ ^v[0-9]+\.[0-9]+\.[0-9]+-rc\.[0-9]+(\.[0-9A-Za-z]+)?$ ]]; then
             identity=rc
           elif [[ "$TAG" =~ ^v[0-9]+\.[0-9]+\.[0-9]+$ ]]; then
             identity=stable