diff --git a/doc/sphinx/source/conf.py b/doc/sphinx/source/conf.py
index 0620a585..6aa70864 100644
--- a/doc/sphinx/source/conf.py
+++ b/doc/sphinx/source/conf.py
@@ -61,8 +61,23 @@
 
 # The short X.Y version.
 version = '.'.join(packageversion.split('.')[:2])
+
 # The full version, including alpha/beta/rc tags.
-release = packageversion
+##release = packageversion
+#
+# clean up for RTD:
+# 0.7.0+5.g8afad4b.dirty --> 0.7.0+5.g8afad4b
+# 0.7.0+0.g43485dd.dirty --> 0.7.0
+try:
+    ver, rc = packageversion.split("+")
+except ValueError:
+    ver, rc = packageversion, None
+
+if not rc or rc.startswith('0'):
+    release = ver
+else:
+    release = ver + "+" + rc.replace(".dirty", "")
+
 
 # The language for content autogenerated by Sphinx. Refer to documentation
 # for a list of supported languages.