diff --git a/project/Release.scala b/project/Release.scala
index 599424a83..27d8d586e 100644
--- a/project/Release.scala
+++ b/project/Release.scala
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ object Release {
 
   val savePreviousReleaseVersion = ReleaseStep { state =>
 
-    val cmd = Seq(state.vcs.commandName, "tag", "-l")
+    val cmd = Seq(state.vcs.commandName, "tag", "--sort", "version:refname")
 
     val tag = scala.sys.process.Process(cmd)
       .!!