diff --git a/podman.mk b/podman.mk
index 4a51640..b75ffb4 100644
--- a/podman.mk
+++ b/podman.mk
@@ -1,30 +1,26 @@
 # Parse version from latest git semver tag
-GIT_TAG := $(shell git describe --tags --match v*.*.* 2>/dev/null || git rev-parse --short HEAD 2>/dev/null)
+GIT_TAG ?= $(shell git describe --tags --match v*.*.* 2>/dev/null || git rev-parse --short HEAD 2>/dev/null)
+GIT_BRANCH ?= $(shell git rev-parse --abbrev-ref HEAD 2>/dev/null)
 
-GIT_BRANCH ?= $(shell git name-rev --name-only HEAD 2>/dev/null | sed -e 's,remotes/origin/,,' -e 's/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/-/g')
-# if "tags/" is in the branchname we are actually on a tag and need to use rev-parse instead
-ifeq ($(findstring tags/, $(GIT_TAG)),)
-	GIT_BRANCH = $(shell git rev-parse --abbrev-ref HEAD 2>/dev/null)
-endif
-
-TAG := $(GIT_TAG)
+TAG ::= $(GIT_TAG)
 # append branch name to tag if NOT main nor master
 ifeq (,$(filter main master, $(GIT_BRANCH)))
 	# If branch is substring of tag, omit branch name
 	ifeq ($(findstring $(GIT_BRANCH), $(GIT_TAG)),)
 		# only append branch name if not equal tag
 		ifneq ($(GIT_TAG), $(GIT_BRANCH))
-			TAG = $(GIT_TAG)-$(GIT_BRANCH)
+			# Sanitize GIT_BRANCH to allowed Docker tag character set
+			TAG = $(GIT_TAG)-$(shell echo $$GIT_BRANCH | sed -e 's/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/-/g')
 		endif
 	endif
 endif
 
-ARCH := amd64
-ALL_ARCHS := amd64 arm64
+ARCH ::= amd64
+ALL_ARCHS ::= amd64 arm64
 _ARCH = $(or $(filter $(ARCH),$(ALL_ARCHS)),$(error $$ARCH [$(ARCH)] must be exactly one of "$(ALL_ARCHS)"))
 
 ifneq ($(TRIVY_REMOTE),)
-	TRIVY_OPTS := --server $(TRIVY_REMOTE)
+	TRIVY_OPTS ::= --server $(TRIVY_REMOTE)
 endif
 
 .SILENT: ; # no need for @
diff --git a/vars/buildPodman.groovy b/vars/buildPodman.groovy
index 85c7aa9..e33c2cf 100644
--- a/vars/buildPodman.groovy
+++ b/vars/buildPodman.groovy
@@ -10,10 +10,11 @@ def call(Map config=[:]) {
       stages {
         stage('Prepare') {
           steps {
+            // we set pull tags as project adv. options
             // pull tags
-            withCredentials([gitUsernamePassword(credentialsId: 'gitea-jenkins-user')]) {
-              sh 'git fetch -q --tags ${GIT_URL}'
-            }
+            //withCredentials([gitUsernamePassword(credentialsId: 'gitea-jenkins-user')]) {
+            //  sh 'git fetch -q --tags ${GIT_URL}'
+            //}
             // Optional project specific preparations
             sh 'make prepare'
           }
@@ -22,7 +23,7 @@ def call(Map config=[:]) {
         // Build using rootless podman
         stage('Build') {
           steps {
-            sh 'make build'
+            sh 'make build GIT_BRANCH=$GIT_BRANCH'
           }
         }