diff --git a/elements/ubuntu/README.rst b/elements/ubuntu/README.rst
index 85c7e9032..199b86482 100644
--- a/elements/ubuntu/README.rst
+++ b/elements/ubuntu/README.rst
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ Overrides:
  * To use a non-default URL for downloading base Ubuntu cloud images,
    use the environment variable DIB\_CLOUD\_IMAGES
  * To download a non-default release of Ubuntu cloud images, use the
-   environment variable DIB\_RELEASE
+   environment variable DIB\_RELEASE. This element will export the DIB_RELEASE
+   variable.
  * To use different mirrors rather than the default of archive.ubuntu.com and
    security.ubuntu.com, use the environment variable DIB\_DISTRIBUTION\_MIRROR
diff --git a/elements/ubuntu/environment.d/10-ubuntu-distro-name.bash b/elements/ubuntu/environment.d/10-ubuntu-distro-name.bash
index 0fb91527b..2860427c8 100644
--- a/elements/ubuntu/environment.d/10-ubuntu-distro-name.bash
+++ b/elements/ubuntu/environment.d/10-ubuntu-distro-name.bash
@@ -1 +1,2 @@
 export DISTRO_NAME=ubuntu
+export DIB_RELEASE=${DIB_RELEASE:-trusty}