diff --git a/codex-rs/core/src/util.rs b/codex-rs/core/src/util.rs
index 5304a89ac..db2d0e74e 100644
--- a/codex-rs/core/src/util.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/core/src/util.rs
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ pub(crate) fn backoff(attempt: u64) -> Duration {
 }
 
 pub(crate) fn error_or_panic(message: impl std::string::ToString) {
-    if cfg!(debug_assertions) || env!("CARGO_PKG_VERSION").contains("alpha") {
+    if cfg!(debug_assertions) {
         panic!("{}", message.to_string());
     } else {
         error!("{}", message.to_string());