diff --git a/.ci/pipeline_definitions b/.ci/pipeline_definitions
index bbfc8374311e..68795d80ed35 100644
--- a/.ci/pipeline_definitions
+++ b/.ci/pipeline_definitions
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ vertical-pod-autoscaler:
     release:
       traits:
         version:
-          preprocess: 'finalize'
+          preprocess: 'noop'
         component_descriptor:
           ocm_repository: europe-docker.pkg.dev/gardener-project/releases
         publish:
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ vertical-pod-autoscaler:
             vpa-admission-controller:
               image: europe-docker.pkg.dev/gardener-project/releases/gardener/autoscaler/vertical-pod-autoscaler/vpa-admission-controller
         release:
-          nextversion: 'bump_minor'
+          nextversion: 'noop'
           git_tags:
             - ref_template: refs/tags/vpa-{VERSION}
           on_tag_conflict: 'fail'
diff --git a/vertical-pod-autoscaler/common/version.go b/vertical-pod-autoscaler/common/version.go
index 23f6a14ddd58..ecde2e8811c1 100644
--- a/vertical-pod-autoscaler/common/version.go
+++ b/vertical-pod-autoscaler/common/version.go
@@ -17,4 +17,4 @@ limitations under the License.
 package common
 
 // VerticalPodAutoscalerVersion is the version of VPA.
-const VerticalPodAutoscalerVersion = "1.3.0-dev"
+const VerticalPodAutoscalerVersion = "1.2.1-gardener-build.2"