diff --git a/packages/bundler-plugins/src/core/utils.ts b/packages/bundler-plugins/src/core/utils.ts
index f0d8952dc131..01b5b807c1de 100644
--- a/packages/bundler-plugins/src/core/utils.ts
+++ b/packages/bundler-plugins/src/core/utils.ts
@@ -224,81 +224,81 @@ export function determineReleaseName(): string | undefined {
 
   const possibleReleaseNameOfGitProvider =
     // GitHub Actions - https://help.github.com/en/actions/configuring-and-managing-workflows/using-environment-variables#default-environment-variables
-    process.env['GITHUB_SHA'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('GITHUB_SHA') ||
     // GitLab CI - https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/ci/variables/predefined_variables.html
-    process.env['CI_MERGE_REQUEST_SOURCE_BRANCH_SHA'] ||
-    process.env['CI_BUILD_REF'] ||
-    process.env['CI_COMMIT_SHA'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('CI_MERGE_REQUEST_SOURCE_BRANCH_SHA') ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('CI_BUILD_REF') ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('CI_COMMIT_SHA') ||
     // Bitbucket - https://support.atlassian.com/bitbucket-cloud/docs/variables-and-secrets/
-    process.env['BITBUCKET_COMMIT'];
+    readCommitEnvVar('BITBUCKET_COMMIT');
 
   const possibleReleaseNameOfCiProvidersWithSpecificEnvVar =
     // AppVeyor - https://www.appveyor.com/docs/environment-variables/
-    process.env['APPVEYOR_PULL_REQUEST_HEAD_COMMIT'] ||
-    process.env['APPVEYOR_REPO_COMMIT'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('APPVEYOR_PULL_REQUEST_HEAD_COMMIT') ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('APPVEYOR_REPO_COMMIT') ||
     // AWS CodeBuild - https://docs.aws.amazon.com/codebuild/latest/userguide/build-env-ref-env-vars.html
-    process.env['CODEBUILD_RESOLVED_SOURCE_VERSION'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('CODEBUILD_RESOLVED_SOURCE_VERSION') ||
     // AWS Amplify - https://docs.aws.amazon.com/amplify/latest/userguide/environment-variables.html
-    process.env['AWS_COMMIT_ID'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('AWS_COMMIT_ID') ||
     // Azure Pipelines - https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/pipelines/build/variables?view=azure-devops&tabs=yaml
-    process.env['BUILD_SOURCEVERSION'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('BUILD_SOURCEVERSION') ||
     // Bitrise - https://devcenter.bitrise.io/builds/available-environment-variables/
-    process.env['GIT_CLONE_COMMIT_HASH'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('GIT_CLONE_COMMIT_HASH') ||
     // Buddy CI - https://buddy.works/docs/pipelines/environment-variables#default-environment-variables
-    process.env['BUDDY_EXECUTION_REVISION'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('BUDDY_EXECUTION_REVISION') ||
     // Builtkite - https://buildkite.com/docs/pipelines/environment-variables
-    process.env['BUILDKITE_COMMIT'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('BUILDKITE_COMMIT') ||
     // CircleCI - https://circleci.com/docs/variables/
-    process.env['CIRCLE_SHA1'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('CIRCLE_SHA1') ||
     // Cirrus CI - https://cirrus-ci.org/guide/writing-tasks/#environment-variables
-    process.env['CIRRUS_CHANGE_IN_REPO'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('CIRRUS_CHANGE_IN_REPO') ||
     // Codefresh - https://codefresh.io/docs/docs/codefresh-yaml/variables/
-    process.env['CF_REVISION'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('CF_REVISION') ||
     // Codemagic - https://docs.codemagic.io/yaml-basic-configuration/environment-variables/
-    process.env['CM_COMMIT'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('CM_COMMIT') ||
     // Cloudflare Pages - https://developers.cloudflare.com/pages/platform/build-configuration/#environment-variables
-    process.env['CF_PAGES_COMMIT_SHA'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('CF_PAGES_COMMIT_SHA') ||
     // Drone - https://docs.drone.io/pipeline/environment/reference/
-    process.env['DRONE_COMMIT_SHA'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('DRONE_COMMIT_SHA') ||
     // Flightcontrol - https://www.flightcontrol.dev/docs/guides/flightcontrol/environment-variables#built-in-environment-variables
-    process.env['FC_GIT_COMMIT_SHA'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('FC_GIT_COMMIT_SHA') ||
     // Heroku #1 https://devcenter.heroku.com/articles/heroku-ci
-    process.env['HEROKU_TEST_RUN_COMMIT_VERSION'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('HEROKU_TEST_RUN_COMMIT_VERSION') ||
     // Heroku #2 https://docs.sentry.io/product/integrations/deployment/heroku/#configure-releases
-    process.env['HEROKU_SLUG_COMMIT'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('HEROKU_SLUG_COMMIT') ||
     // Railway - https://docs.railway.app/reference/variables#git-variables
-    process.env['RAILWAY_GIT_COMMIT_SHA'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('RAILWAY_GIT_COMMIT_SHA') ||
     // Render - https://render.com/docs/environment-variables
-    process.env['RENDER_GIT_COMMIT'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('RENDER_GIT_COMMIT') ||
     // Semaphore CI - https://docs.semaphoreci.com/ci-cd-environment/environment-variables
-    process.env['SEMAPHORE_GIT_SHA'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('SEMAPHORE_GIT_SHA') ||
     // TravisCI - https://docs.travis-ci.com/user/environment-variables/#default-environment-variables
-    process.env['TRAVIS_PULL_REQUEST_SHA'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('TRAVIS_PULL_REQUEST_SHA') ||
     // Vercel - https://vercel.com/docs/v2/build-step#system-environment-variables
-    process.env['VERCEL_GIT_COMMIT_SHA'] ||
-    process.env['VERCEL_GITHUB_COMMIT_SHA'] ||
-    process.env['VERCEL_GITLAB_COMMIT_SHA'] ||
-    process.env['VERCEL_BITBUCKET_COMMIT_SHA'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('VERCEL_GIT_COMMIT_SHA') ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('VERCEL_GITHUB_COMMIT_SHA') ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('VERCEL_GITLAB_COMMIT_SHA') ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('VERCEL_BITBUCKET_COMMIT_SHA') ||
     // Zeit (now known as Vercel)
-    process.env['ZEIT_GITHUB_COMMIT_SHA'] ||
-    process.env['ZEIT_GITLAB_COMMIT_SHA'] ||
-    process.env['ZEIT_BITBUCKET_COMMIT_SHA'];
+    readCommitEnvVar('ZEIT_GITHUB_COMMIT_SHA') ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('ZEIT_GITLAB_COMMIT_SHA') ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('ZEIT_BITBUCKET_COMMIT_SHA');
 
   const possibleReleaseNameOfCiProvidersWithGenericEnvVar =
     // CloudBees CodeShip - https://docs.cloudbees.com/docs/cloudbees-codeship/latest/pro-builds-and-configuration/environment-variables
-    process.env['CI_COMMIT_ID'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('CI_COMMIT_ID') ||
     // Coolify - https://coolify.io/docs/knowledge-base/environment-variables
-    process.env['SOURCE_COMMIT'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('SOURCE_COMMIT') ||
     // Heroku #3 https://devcenter.heroku.com/changelog-items/630
-    process.env['SOURCE_VERSION'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('SOURCE_VERSION') ||
     // Jenkins - https://plugins.jenkins.io/git/#environment-variables
-    process.env['GIT_COMMIT'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('GIT_COMMIT') ||
     // Netlify - https://docs.netlify.com/configure-builds/environment-variables/#build-metadata
-    process.env['COMMIT_REF'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('COMMIT_REF') ||
     // TeamCity - https://www.jetbrains.com/help/teamcity/predefined-build-parameters.html
-    process.env['BUILD_VCS_NUMBER'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('BUILD_VCS_NUMBER') ||
     // Woodpecker CI - https://woodpecker-ci.org/docs/usage/environment
-    process.env['CI_COMMIT_SHA'];
+    readCommitEnvVar('CI_COMMIT_SHA');
 
   return (
     possibleReleaseNameOfGitProvider ||
@@ -308,6 +308,23 @@ export function determineReleaseName(): string | undefined {
   );
 }
 
+/**
+ * Reads an environment variable that should hold a commit SHA. A value that is the variable's own
+ * name, such as `VERCEL_GIT_COMMIT_SHA=VERCEL_GIT_COMMIT_SHA`, is ignored: it never changes, so as
+ * a release name it would put every build into one release.
+ */
+function readCommitEnvVar(name: string): string | undefined {
+  const value = process.env[name];
+  if (value?.trim() === name) {
+    // eslint-disable-next-line no-console
+    console.warn(
+      `[@sentry/bundler-plugins] Ignoring the ${name} environment variable as a release name, because its value is its own name. Set the release explicitly, or fix the variable in your build environment.`,
+    );
+    return undefined;
+  }
+  return value;
+}
+
 /**
  * Generates code for the global injector which is responsible for setting the global
  * `SENTRY_RELEASE` & `SENTRY_BUILD_INFO` variables.
diff --git a/packages/bundler-plugins/test/core/utils.test.ts b/packages/bundler-plugins/test/core/utils.test.ts
index 73c28e6e646f..e3c7ca9ceb63 100644
--- a/packages/bundler-plugins/test/core/utils.test.ts
+++ b/packages/bundler-plugins/test/core/utils.test.ts
@@ -300,4 +300,17 @@ describe('determineReleaseName', () => {
       execSyncSpy.mockRestore();
     }
   });
+  it('ignores a commit env var whose value is its own name', () => {
+    const originalEnv = process.env;
+    process.env = { VERCEL_GIT_COMMIT_SHA: 'VERCEL_GIT_COMMIT_SHA', COMMIT_REF: 'abc123' };
+    const warnSpy = vi.spyOn(console, 'warn').mockImplementation(() => undefined);
+
+    try {
+      expect(determineReleaseName()).toBe('abc123');
+      expect(warnSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.stringContaining('VERCEL_GIT_COMMIT_SHA'));
+    } finally {
+      process.env = originalEnv;
+      warnSpy.mockRestore();
+    }
+  });
 });
diff --git a/packages/node/src/sdk/api.ts b/packages/node/src/sdk/api.ts
index f3d02265ea4d..11bf30f25285 100644
--- a/packages/node/src/sdk/api.ts
+++ b/packages/node/src/sdk/api.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 // PUBLIC APIS
 
 import type { StackParser } from '@sentry/core';
-import { createStackParser, GLOBAL_OBJ } from '@sentry/core';
+import { consoleSandbox, createStackParser, GLOBAL_OBJ } from '@sentry/core';
 import { nodeStackLineParser } from '@sentry/core/server';
 import { createGetModuleFromFilename } from '../utils/module';
 
@@ -27,83 +27,83 @@ export function getSentryRelease(fallback?: string): string | undefined {
 
   const possibleReleaseNameOfGitProvider =
     // GitHub Actions - https://help.github.com/en/actions/configuring-and-managing-workflows/using-environment-variables#default-environment-variables
-    process.env['GITHUB_SHA'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('GITHUB_SHA') ||
     // GitLab CI - https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/ci/variables/predefined_variables.html
-    process.env['CI_MERGE_REQUEST_SOURCE_BRANCH_SHA'] ||
-    process.env['CI_BUILD_REF'] ||
-    process.env['CI_COMMIT_SHA'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('CI_MERGE_REQUEST_SOURCE_BRANCH_SHA') ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('CI_BUILD_REF') ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('CI_COMMIT_SHA') ||
     // Bitbucket - https://support.atlassian.com/bitbucket-cloud/docs/variables-and-secrets/
-    process.env['BITBUCKET_COMMIT'];
+    readCommitEnvVar('BITBUCKET_COMMIT');
 
   const possibleReleaseNameOfCiProvidersWithSpecificEnvVar =
     // AppVeyor - https://www.appveyor.com/docs/environment-variables/
-    process.env['APPVEYOR_PULL_REQUEST_HEAD_COMMIT'] ||
-    process.env['APPVEYOR_REPO_COMMIT'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('APPVEYOR_PULL_REQUEST_HEAD_COMMIT') ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('APPVEYOR_REPO_COMMIT') ||
     // AWS CodeBuild - https://docs.aws.amazon.com/codebuild/latest/userguide/build-env-ref-env-vars.html
-    process.env['CODEBUILD_RESOLVED_SOURCE_VERSION'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('CODEBUILD_RESOLVED_SOURCE_VERSION') ||
     // AWS Amplify - https://docs.aws.amazon.com/amplify/latest/userguide/environment-variables.html
-    process.env['AWS_COMMIT_ID'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('AWS_COMMIT_ID') ||
     // Azure Pipelines - https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/pipelines/build/variables?view=azure-devops&tabs=yaml
-    process.env['BUILD_SOURCEVERSION'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('BUILD_SOURCEVERSION') ||
     // Bitrise - https://devcenter.bitrise.io/builds/available-environment-variables/
-    process.env['GIT_CLONE_COMMIT_HASH'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('GIT_CLONE_COMMIT_HASH') ||
     // Buddy CI - https://buddy.works/docs/pipelines/environment-variables#default-environment-variables
-    process.env['BUDDY_EXECUTION_REVISION'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('BUDDY_EXECUTION_REVISION') ||
     // Builtkite - https://buildkite.com/docs/pipelines/environment-variables
-    process.env['BUILDKITE_COMMIT'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('BUILDKITE_COMMIT') ||
     // CircleCI - https://circleci.com/docs/variables/
-    process.env['CIRCLE_SHA1'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('CIRCLE_SHA1') ||
     // Cirrus CI - https://cirrus-ci.org/guide/writing-tasks/#environment-variables
-    process.env['CIRRUS_CHANGE_IN_REPO'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('CIRRUS_CHANGE_IN_REPO') ||
     // Codefresh - https://codefresh.io/docs/docs/codefresh-yaml/variables/
-    process.env['CF_REVISION'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('CF_REVISION') ||
     // Codemagic - https://docs.codemagic.io/yaml-basic-configuration/environment-variables/
-    process.env['CM_COMMIT'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('CM_COMMIT') ||
     // Cloudflare Pages - https://developers.cloudflare.com/pages/platform/build-configuration/#environment-variables
-    process.env['CF_PAGES_COMMIT_SHA'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('CF_PAGES_COMMIT_SHA') ||
     // Drone - https://docs.drone.io/pipeline/environment/reference/
-    process.env['DRONE_COMMIT_SHA'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('DRONE_COMMIT_SHA') ||
     // Flightcontrol - https://www.flightcontrol.dev/docs/guides/flightcontrol/environment-variables#built-in-environment-variables
-    process.env['FC_GIT_COMMIT_SHA'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('FC_GIT_COMMIT_SHA') ||
     // Heroku #1 https://devcenter.heroku.com/articles/heroku-ci
-    process.env['HEROKU_TEST_RUN_COMMIT_VERSION'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('HEROKU_TEST_RUN_COMMIT_VERSION') ||
     // Heroku #2 https://devcenter.heroku.com/articles/dyno-metadata#dyno-metadata
-    process.env['HEROKU_BUILD_COMMIT'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('HEROKU_BUILD_COMMIT') ||
     // Heroku #3 (deprecated by Heroku, kept for backward compatibility)
-    process.env['HEROKU_SLUG_COMMIT'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('HEROKU_SLUG_COMMIT') ||
     // Railway - https://docs.railway.app/reference/variables#git-variables
-    process.env['RAILWAY_GIT_COMMIT_SHA'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('RAILWAY_GIT_COMMIT_SHA') ||
     // Render - https://render.com/docs/environment-variables
-    process.env['RENDER_GIT_COMMIT'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('RENDER_GIT_COMMIT') ||
     // Semaphore CI - https://docs.semaphoreci.com/ci-cd-environment/environment-variables
-    process.env['SEMAPHORE_GIT_SHA'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('SEMAPHORE_GIT_SHA') ||
     // TravisCI - https://docs.travis-ci.com/user/environment-variables/#default-environment-variables
-    process.env['TRAVIS_PULL_REQUEST_SHA'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('TRAVIS_PULL_REQUEST_SHA') ||
     // Vercel - https://vercel.com/docs/v2/build-step#system-environment-variables
-    process.env['VERCEL_GIT_COMMIT_SHA'] ||
-    process.env['VERCEL_GITHUB_COMMIT_SHA'] ||
-    process.env['VERCEL_GITLAB_COMMIT_SHA'] ||
-    process.env['VERCEL_BITBUCKET_COMMIT_SHA'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('VERCEL_GIT_COMMIT_SHA') ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('VERCEL_GITHUB_COMMIT_SHA') ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('VERCEL_GITLAB_COMMIT_SHA') ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('VERCEL_BITBUCKET_COMMIT_SHA') ||
     // Zeit (now known as Vercel)
-    process.env['ZEIT_GITHUB_COMMIT_SHA'] ||
-    process.env['ZEIT_GITLAB_COMMIT_SHA'] ||
-    process.env['ZEIT_BITBUCKET_COMMIT_SHA'];
+    readCommitEnvVar('ZEIT_GITHUB_COMMIT_SHA') ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('ZEIT_GITLAB_COMMIT_SHA') ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('ZEIT_BITBUCKET_COMMIT_SHA');
 
   const possibleReleaseNameOfCiProvidersWithGenericEnvVar =
     // CloudBees CodeShip - https://docs.cloudbees.com/docs/cloudbees-codeship/latest/pro-builds-and-configuration/environment-variables
-    process.env['CI_COMMIT_ID'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('CI_COMMIT_ID') ||
     // Coolify - https://coolify.io/docs/knowledge-base/environment-variables
-    process.env['SOURCE_COMMIT'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('SOURCE_COMMIT') ||
     // Heroku #3 https://devcenter.heroku.com/changelog-items/630
-    process.env['SOURCE_VERSION'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('SOURCE_VERSION') ||
     // Jenkins - https://plugins.jenkins.io/git/#environment-variables
-    process.env['GIT_COMMIT'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('GIT_COMMIT') ||
     // Netlify - https://docs.netlify.com/configure-builds/environment-variables/#build-metadata
-    process.env['COMMIT_REF'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('COMMIT_REF') ||
     // TeamCity - https://www.jetbrains.com/help/teamcity/predefined-build-parameters.html
-    process.env['BUILD_VCS_NUMBER'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('BUILD_VCS_NUMBER') ||
     // Woodpecker CI - https://woodpecker-ci.org/docs/usage/environment
-    process.env['CI_COMMIT_SHA'];
+    readCommitEnvVar('CI_COMMIT_SHA');
 
   return (
     possibleReleaseNameOfGitProvider ||
@@ -113,5 +113,24 @@ export function getSentryRelease(fallback?: string): string | undefined {
   );
 }
 
+/**
+ * Reads an environment variable that should hold a commit SHA. A value that is the variable's own
+ * name, such as `VERCEL_GIT_COMMIT_SHA=VERCEL_GIT_COMMIT_SHA`, is ignored: it never changes, so as
+ * a release name it would put every build into one release.
+ */
+function readCommitEnvVar(name: string): string | undefined {
+  const value = process.env[name];
+  if (value?.trim() === name) {
+    consoleSandbox(() => {
+      // eslint-disable-next-line no-console
+      console.warn(
+        `[Sentry] Ignoring the ${name} environment variable as a release name, because its value is its own name. Set the release explicitly, or fix the variable in your build environment.`,
+      );
+    });
+    return undefined;
+  }
+  return value;
+}
+
 /** Node.js stack parser */
 export const defaultStackParser: StackParser = createStackParser(nodeStackLineParser(createGetModuleFromFilename()));
diff --git a/packages/node/test/sdk/getSentryRelease.test.ts b/packages/node/test/sdk/getSentryRelease.test.ts
index 3e29b94e4e9e..a8148853f088 100644
--- a/packages/node/test/sdk/getSentryRelease.test.ts
+++ b/packages/node/test/sdk/getSentryRelease.test.ts
@@ -41,4 +41,21 @@ describe('getSentryRelease', () => {
 
     expect(getSentryRelease()).toBe('heroku-build-commit-sha');
   });
+
+  it('ignores a commit env var whose value is its own name', () => {
+    const warnSpy = vi.spyOn(console, 'warn').mockImplementation(() => {});
+    vi.stubEnv('VERCEL_GIT_COMMIT_SHA', 'VERCEL_GIT_COMMIT_SHA');
+    vi.stubEnv('COMMIT_REF', 'netlify-commit-ref');
+
+    expect(getSentryRelease()).toBe('netlify-commit-ref');
+    expect(warnSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.stringContaining('VERCEL_GIT_COMMIT_SHA'));
+    warnSpy.mockRestore();
+  });
+
+  it('falls back when the only commit env var is its own name', () => {
+    vi.spyOn(console, 'warn').mockImplementation(() => {});
+    vi.stubEnv('VERCEL_GIT_COMMIT_SHA', 'VERCEL_GIT_COMMIT_SHA');
+
+    expect(getSentryRelease('fallback')).toBe('fallback');
+  });
 });
diff --git a/packages/vercel-edge/src/sdk.ts b/packages/vercel-edge/src/sdk.ts
index ba3c4ce71830..4cb27efcc524 100644
--- a/packages/vercel-edge/src/sdk.ts
+++ b/packages/vercel-edge/src/sdk.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import type { Client, Integration } from '@sentry/core';
 import {
   _INTERNAL_warnIfClientIsActive,
   consoleIntegration,
+  consoleSandbox,
   conversationIdIntegration,
   createStackParser,
   debug,
@@ -158,83 +159,83 @@ export function getSentryRelease(fallback?: string): string | undefined {
 
   const possibleReleaseNameOfGitProvider =
     // GitHub Actions - https://help.github.com/en/actions/configuring-and-managing-workflows/using-environment-variables#default-environment-variables
-    process.env['GITHUB_SHA'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('GITHUB_SHA') ||
     // GitLab CI - https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/ci/variables/predefined_variables.html
-    process.env['CI_MERGE_REQUEST_SOURCE_BRANCH_SHA'] ||
-    process.env['CI_BUILD_REF'] ||
-    process.env['CI_COMMIT_SHA'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('CI_MERGE_REQUEST_SOURCE_BRANCH_SHA') ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('CI_BUILD_REF') ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('CI_COMMIT_SHA') ||
     // Bitbucket - https://support.atlassian.com/bitbucket-cloud/docs/variables-and-secrets/
-    process.env['BITBUCKET_COMMIT'];
+    readCommitEnvVar('BITBUCKET_COMMIT');
 
   const possibleReleaseNameOfCiProvidersWithSpecificEnvVar =
     // AppVeyor - https://www.appveyor.com/docs/environment-variables/
-    process.env['APPVEYOR_PULL_REQUEST_HEAD_COMMIT'] ||
-    process.env['APPVEYOR_REPO_COMMIT'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('APPVEYOR_PULL_REQUEST_HEAD_COMMIT') ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('APPVEYOR_REPO_COMMIT') ||
     // AWS CodeBuild - https://docs.aws.amazon.com/codebuild/latest/userguide/build-env-ref-env-vars.html
-    process.env['CODEBUILD_RESOLVED_SOURCE_VERSION'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('CODEBUILD_RESOLVED_SOURCE_VERSION') ||
     // AWS Amplify - https://docs.aws.amazon.com/amplify/latest/userguide/environment-variables.html
-    process.env['AWS_COMMIT_ID'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('AWS_COMMIT_ID') ||
     // Azure Pipelines - https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/pipelines/build/variables?view=azure-devops&tabs=yaml
-    process.env['BUILD_SOURCEVERSION'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('BUILD_SOURCEVERSION') ||
     // Bitrise - https://devcenter.bitrise.io/builds/available-environment-variables/
-    process.env['GIT_CLONE_COMMIT_HASH'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('GIT_CLONE_COMMIT_HASH') ||
     // Buddy CI - https://buddy.works/docs/pipelines/environment-variables#default-environment-variables
-    process.env['BUDDY_EXECUTION_REVISION'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('BUDDY_EXECUTION_REVISION') ||
     // Builtkite - https://buildkite.com/docs/pipelines/environment-variables
-    process.env['BUILDKITE_COMMIT'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('BUILDKITE_COMMIT') ||
     // CircleCI - https://circleci.com/docs/variables/
-    process.env['CIRCLE_SHA1'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('CIRCLE_SHA1') ||
     // Cirrus CI - https://cirrus-ci.org/guide/writing-tasks/#environment-variables
-    process.env['CIRRUS_CHANGE_IN_REPO'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('CIRRUS_CHANGE_IN_REPO') ||
     // Codefresh - https://codefresh.io/docs/docs/codefresh-yaml/variables/
-    process.env['CF_REVISION'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('CF_REVISION') ||
     // Codemagic - https://docs.codemagic.io/yaml-basic-configuration/environment-variables/
-    process.env['CM_COMMIT'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('CM_COMMIT') ||
     // Cloudflare Pages - https://developers.cloudflare.com/pages/platform/build-configuration/#environment-variables
-    process.env['CF_PAGES_COMMIT_SHA'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('CF_PAGES_COMMIT_SHA') ||
     // Drone - https://docs.drone.io/pipeline/environment/reference/
-    process.env['DRONE_COMMIT_SHA'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('DRONE_COMMIT_SHA') ||
     // Flightcontrol - https://www.flightcontrol.dev/docs/guides/flightcontrol/environment-variables#built-in-environment-variables
-    process.env['FC_GIT_COMMIT_SHA'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('FC_GIT_COMMIT_SHA') ||
     // Heroku #1 https://devcenter.heroku.com/articles/heroku-ci
-    process.env['HEROKU_TEST_RUN_COMMIT_VERSION'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('HEROKU_TEST_RUN_COMMIT_VERSION') ||
     // Heroku #2 https://devcenter.heroku.com/articles/dyno-metadata#dyno-metadata
-    process.env['HEROKU_BUILD_COMMIT'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('HEROKU_BUILD_COMMIT') ||
     // Heroku #3 (deprecated by Heroku, kept for backward compatibility)
-    process.env['HEROKU_SLUG_COMMIT'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('HEROKU_SLUG_COMMIT') ||
     // Railway - https://docs.railway.app/reference/variables#git-variables
-    process.env['RAILWAY_GIT_COMMIT_SHA'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('RAILWAY_GIT_COMMIT_SHA') ||
     // Render - https://render.com/docs/environment-variables
-    process.env['RENDER_GIT_COMMIT'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('RENDER_GIT_COMMIT') ||
     // Semaphore CI - https://docs.semaphoreci.com/ci-cd-environment/environment-variables
-    process.env['SEMAPHORE_GIT_SHA'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('SEMAPHORE_GIT_SHA') ||
     // TravisCI - https://docs.travis-ci.com/user/environment-variables/#default-environment-variables
-    process.env['TRAVIS_PULL_REQUEST_SHA'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('TRAVIS_PULL_REQUEST_SHA') ||
     // Vercel - https://vercel.com/docs/v2/build-step#system-environment-variables
-    process.env['VERCEL_GIT_COMMIT_SHA'] ||
-    process.env['VERCEL_GITHUB_COMMIT_SHA'] ||
-    process.env['VERCEL_GITLAB_COMMIT_SHA'] ||
-    process.env['VERCEL_BITBUCKET_COMMIT_SHA'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('VERCEL_GIT_COMMIT_SHA') ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('VERCEL_GITHUB_COMMIT_SHA') ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('VERCEL_GITLAB_COMMIT_SHA') ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('VERCEL_BITBUCKET_COMMIT_SHA') ||
     // Zeit (now known as Vercel)
-    process.env['ZEIT_GITHUB_COMMIT_SHA'] ||
-    process.env['ZEIT_GITLAB_COMMIT_SHA'] ||
-    process.env['ZEIT_BITBUCKET_COMMIT_SHA'];
+    readCommitEnvVar('ZEIT_GITHUB_COMMIT_SHA') ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('ZEIT_GITLAB_COMMIT_SHA') ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('ZEIT_BITBUCKET_COMMIT_SHA');
 
   const possibleReleaseNameOfCiProvidersWithGenericEnvVar =
     // CloudBees CodeShip - https://docs.cloudbees.com/docs/cloudbees-codeship/latest/pro-builds-and-configuration/environment-variables
-    process.env['CI_COMMIT_ID'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('CI_COMMIT_ID') ||
     // Coolify - https://coolify.io/docs/knowledge-base/environment-variables
-    process.env['SOURCE_COMMIT'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('SOURCE_COMMIT') ||
     // Heroku #3 https://devcenter.heroku.com/changelog-items/630
-    process.env['SOURCE_VERSION'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('SOURCE_VERSION') ||
     // Jenkins - https://plugins.jenkins.io/git/#environment-variables
-    process.env['GIT_COMMIT'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('GIT_COMMIT') ||
     // Netlify - https://docs.netlify.com/configure-builds/environment-variables/#build-metadata
-    process.env['COMMIT_REF'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('COMMIT_REF') ||
     // TeamCity - https://www.jetbrains.com/help/teamcity/predefined-build-parameters.html
-    process.env['BUILD_VCS_NUMBER'] ||
+    readCommitEnvVar('BUILD_VCS_NUMBER') ||
     // Woodpecker CI - https://woodpecker-ci.org/docs/usage/environment
-    process.env['CI_COMMIT_SHA'];
+    readCommitEnvVar('CI_COMMIT_SHA');
 
   return (
     possibleReleaseNameOfGitProvider ||
@@ -244,6 +245,25 @@ export function getSentryRelease(fallback?: string): string | undefined {
   );
 }
 
+/**
+ * Reads an environment variable that should hold a commit SHA. A value that is the variable's own
+ * name, such as `VERCEL_GIT_COMMIT_SHA=VERCEL_GIT_COMMIT_SHA`, is ignored: it never changes, so as
+ * a release name it would put every build into one release.
+ */
+function readCommitEnvVar(name: string): string | undefined {
+  const value = process.env[name];
+  if (value?.trim() === name) {
+    consoleSandbox(() => {
+      // eslint-disable-next-line no-console
+      console.warn(
+        `[Sentry] Ignoring the ${name} environment variable as a release name, because its value is its own name. Set the release explicitly, or fix the variable in your build environment.`,
+      );
+    });
+    return undefined;
+  }
+  return value;
+}
+
 function getTraceLifecycleFromEnv(envVar: string | undefined): 'static' | 'stream' | undefined {
   return envVar === 'stream' || envVar === 'static' ? envVar : undefined;
 }
diff --git a/packages/vercel-edge/test/getSentryRelease.test.ts b/packages/vercel-edge/test/getSentryRelease.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..78f6926edf78
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/vercel-edge/test/getSentryRelease.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest';
+import { getSentryRelease } from '../src/sdk';
+
+// Commit env vars set on CI (e.g. GITHUB_SHA on GitHub Actions) take precedence over the ones tested here.
+const HIGHER_PRIORITY_ENV_VARS = [
+  'SENTRY_RELEASE',
+  'GITHUB_SHA',
+  'CI_MERGE_REQUEST_SOURCE_BRANCH_SHA',
+  'CI_BUILD_REF',
+  'CI_COMMIT_SHA',
+  'BITBUCKET_COMMIT',
+];
+
+afterEach(() => {
+  vi.unstubAllEnvs();
+  vi.restoreAllMocks();
+});
+
+describe('getSentryRelease', () => {
+  it('ignores a commit env var whose value is its own name', () => {
+    for (const key of HIGHER_PRIORITY_ENV_VARS) {
+      vi.stubEnv(key, '');
+    }
+    const warnSpy = vi.spyOn(console, 'warn').mockImplementation(() => {});
+    vi.stubEnv('VERCEL_GIT_COMMIT_SHA', 'VERCEL_GIT_COMMIT_SHA');
+
+    expect(getSentryRelease('fallback')).toBe('fallback');
+    expect(warnSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.stringContaining('VERCEL_GIT_COMMIT_SHA'));
+  });
+});