diff --git a/generate-stackbrew-library.sh b/generate-stackbrew-library.sh
index 16e8b1c5f..485cbb5b0 100755
--- a/generate-stackbrew-library.sh
+++ b/generate-stackbrew-library.sh
@@ -16,6 +16,11 @@ cd "$(dirname "$(readlink -f "$BASH_SOURCE")")"
 # add the "latest" alias to the "newest" version (LTS vs innovation; see sorting in "versions.sh")
 latest="$(jq -r 'keys_unsorted[0]' versions.json)"
 aliases["$latest"]+=' latest'
+# if "innovation" currently is in line with an LTS, add the "innovation" alias to the LTS release
+innovation="$(jq -r 'to_entries | if .[0].value.version == .[1].value.version and .[1].key == "innovation" then .[0].key else "innovation" end' versions.json)"
+if [ "$innovation" != 'innovation' ]; then
+	aliases["$innovation"]+=' innovation'
+fi
 
 if [ "$#" -eq 0 ]; then
 	versions="$(jq -r 'keys | map(@sh) | join(" ")' versions.json)"
diff --git a/versions.sh b/versions.sh
index cb73b25ef..3b0823e97 100755
--- a/versions.sh
+++ b/versions.sh
@@ -177,10 +177,17 @@ jq <<<"$json" '
 	# https://github.com/docker-library/mysql/pull/1046#issuecomment-2087323746
 	to_entries
 	| sort_by(
-		# very rough "sort by version number"
-		.value.version
-		| split(".")
-		| map(tonumber? // .)
+		[
+			(
+				# very rough "sort by version number"
+				.value.version
+				| split(".")
+				| map(tonumber? // .)
+			),
+			# when two versions are equal (8.4.0 copied to "innovation" *and* in "8.4", for example), prefer the LTS/explicit release over "innovation"
+			.key != "innovation"
+			# (false sorts above true, but then we reverse)
+		]
 	)
 	| reverse
 	| from_entries