diff --git a/image-recipe/_archived/build-auto-installer-iso.sh b/image-recipe/_archived/build-auto-installer-iso.sh
index a85e8880..75684ad6 100755
--- a/image-recipe/_archived/build-auto-installer-iso.sh
+++ b/image-recipe/_archived/build-auto-installer-iso.sh
@@ -3613,10 +3613,27 @@ echo "   Step 5 complete (GRUB + ISOLINUX configured)"
 echo ""
 echo "Step 6: Creating bootable ISO..."
 
-if [ "$UNBUNDLED" = "1" ]; then
-    OUTPUT_ISO="$OUTPUT_DIR/archipelago-installer-${BUILD_VERSION}-unbundled-${ARCH}.iso"
+# Release-candidate suffix: rebuilds of the SAME version used to overwrite
+# the previous ISO under an identical filename, so a flashed stick was
+# indistinguishable from a newer build. Auto-increment an RC counter per
+# version (persists next to the build counter); override with RC=n env.
+RC_COUNTER_FILE="/opt/archipelago/rc-counter-${BUILD_VERSION}"
+if [ -n "${RC:-}" ]; then
+    RC_NUM="$RC"
 else
-    OUTPUT_ISO="$OUTPUT_DIR/archipelago-installer-${BUILD_VERSION}-${ARCH}.iso"
+    if [ -f "$RC_COUNTER_FILE" ]; then
+        RC_NUM=$(( $(cat "$RC_COUNTER_FILE") + 1 ))
+    else
+        RC_NUM=1
+    fi
+fi
+echo "$RC_NUM" | sudo tee "$RC_COUNTER_FILE" > /dev/null 2>/dev/null || true
+echo "   Release candidate: RC${RC_NUM}"
+
+if [ "$UNBUNDLED" = "1" ]; then
+    OUTPUT_ISO="$OUTPUT_DIR/archipelago-installer-${BUILD_VERSION}-unbundled-${ARCH}_RC${RC_NUM}.iso"
+else
+    OUTPUT_ISO="$OUTPUT_DIR/archipelago-installer-${BUILD_VERSION}-${ARCH}_RC${RC_NUM}.iso"
 fi
 
 # Use the proven MBR code for hybrid USB boot