diff --git a/tools/version-check.py b/tools/version-check.py
index 7dfb870d89..f9afdad941 100755
--- a/tools/version-check.py
+++ b/tools/version-check.py
@@ -87,6 +87,10 @@ def load_all_info(openstack_release):
         if 'releases' in info and len(info['releases']) > 0:
             latest_release = info['releases'][-1]
             latest_version = latest_release['version']
+            if latest_version.endswith('-em') and len(info['releases']) > 1:
+                # Ignore Extended Maintenance (EM) releases, e.g. pike-em.
+                latest_release = info['releases'][-2]
+                latest_version = latest_release['version']
             for project in latest_release['projects']:
                 project_name = project['repo'].split('/')[-1]