diff --git a/alpine-ami.yaml b/alpine-ami.yaml
index 8baabc0..18e14e0 100644
--- a/alpine-ami.yaml
+++ b/alpine-ami.yaml
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ builders:
 
     ### Builder Instance Details
 
+    region: "{{user `region`}}"
     subnet_id: "{{user `subnet`}}"
     security_group_id: "{{user `security_group`}}"
     instance_type: "t3.nano"
diff --git a/variables.yaml-default b/variables.yaml-default
index 3ae3cd6..668233a 100644
--- a/variables.yaml-default
+++ b/variables.yaml-default
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 ### Builder-Instance Options ###
 
+# Region to build in, if we initiate a build from outside AWS
+region:
+
 # Subnet ID in which the builder instance is to be launched.  VPC will be
 # automatically determined.
 subnet:
@@ -16,7 +19,7 @@ public_ip: ""
 ### Build Options ###
 
 # Treat similar to a ABUILD pkgrel variable and increment with every release.
-ami_release: "1"
+ami_release: "2"
 
 # AMI name prefix and suffix
 ami_name_prefix: "Alpine-"