diff --git a/bin/internal/create-release.sh b/bin/internal/create-release.sh
index 8f382c7996..485fb650cd 100755
--- a/bin/internal/create-release.sh
+++ b/bin/internal/create-release.sh
@@ -99,13 +99,13 @@ while [ $# -gt 0 ] ; do
             do_test=1
             if [ -z "$version" ] ; then
                 version=$(echo "$1" | tr -d -c '0-9a-z.+-')
-                if [ "x$version" != "x$1" ] ; then
+                if [ "$version" != "$1" ] ; then
                     echo "Invalid version: $1"
                     exit 1
                 fi
             elif [ -z "$branch" ] ; then
                 branch=$(echo "$1" | tr -d -c '/0-9A-Za-z_-')
-                if [ "x$branch" != "x$1" ] ; then
+                if [ "$branch" != "$1" ] ; then
                     echo "Invalid branch: $1"
                     exit 1
                 fi
diff --git a/bin/internal/upload-release b/bin/internal/upload-release
index ce70bb60e8..2c481053d4 100755
--- a/bin/internal/upload-release
+++ b/bin/internal/upload-release
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ if [ $# -lt 2 ] ; then
     exit 1
 fi
 REL=$(echo "$1" | tr -d -c '0-9a-z.-')
-if [ "x$REL" != "x$1" ] ; then
+if [ "$REL" != "$1" ] ; then
     echo "Invalid version: $1"
     exit 1
 fi