diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 73cde7d..3c4cc52 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -53,19 +53,25 @@ end up being parsed as `23`, which is not equivalent.
 
 #### Pre-release versions
 
-For pre-release versions, such as `v1.11.0-rc.0`, use the full version
-specifier (`v1.11.0-rc.0`) and set option `version-type` to `strict`. Pre-release versions are
-opt-in, so `1.11.x` will not match a pre-release.
+To use a pre-release version such as `v1.11.0-rc.0`, specify the exact version
+(`v1.11.0-rc.0`) and set `version-type` to `strict`.
+Note that pre-release versions are opt-in by default.
+Patterns like `1.11.x` do not include pre-release versions unless `latest` is specified.
 
 #### "Latest" versions
 
-Set a tool's version to `latest` to retrieve the latest version of a given tool.
-The latest version is (locally) calculated by the action based on the (retrieved) versions
-it knows (**note**: it is not the same as [GitHub considers it](https://docs.github.com/en/repositories/releasing-projects-on-github/managing-releases-in-a-repository)
-and some repositories might propose).
+To retrieve the most recent available version of a tool, set the version to `latest`.
+This may include pre-release versions such as release candidates.
 
-If in doubt do a test run and compare the obtained release with the one you were expecting to
-be the latest.
+If you want to target only the latest stable release and exclude pre-releases, use a
+version range like `> 0` instead.
+
+Note that the `latest` version is determined locally by the action based on the versions it
+has retrieved. This may differ from how [GitHub defines "latest"](https://docs.github.com/en/repositories/releasing-projects-on-github/managing-releases-in-a-repository),
+and some repositories may present different interpretations.
+
+If you're unsure, perform a test run and compare the resolved version against the version you
+expect to be considered the latest.
 
 ### Compatibility between Operating System and Erlang/OTP
 
diff --git a/dist/index.js b/dist/index.js
index d8efdb8..18eaf27 100644
--- a/dist/index.js
+++ b/dist/index.js
@@ -26323,6 +26323,7 @@ function validVersion(v) {
     v.match(
       new RegExp(`${knownBranches.join('|')}|${nonSpecificVersions.join('|')}`),
     ) == null &&
+    // these ones are for rebar3, which has alpha and beta releases
     !v.startsWith('a') &&
     !v.startsWith('b')
   )
@@ -26349,7 +26350,12 @@ function getVersionFromSpec(spec0, versions0) {
   const altVersions = {}
   Object.entries(versions0).forEach(([version, altVersion]) => {
     let coerced
-    if (isStrictVersion() || isRC(version)) {
+    if (
+      isStrictVersion() ||
+      isRC(version) ||
+      isKnownBranch(version) ||
+      isKnownVerBranch(version)
+    ) {
       // If `version-type: strict` or version is RC, we just try to remove a potential initial v
       coerced = maybeRemoveVPrefix(version)
     } else {
@@ -26367,9 +26373,14 @@ function getVersionFromSpec(spec0, versions0) {
   const rangeMax = semver.maxSatisfying(versions, rangeForMax)
   let version = null
 
-  if (isStrictVersion() || isRC(spec0) || isKnownBranch(spec0)) {
+  if (
+    isStrictVersion() ||
+    isRC(spec0) ||
+    isKnownBranch(spec0) ||
+    isKnownVerBranch(spec0)
+  ) {
     if (versions0[spec]) {
-      // If `version-type: strict` or version is RC, we obtain it directly
+      // We obtain it directly
       version = versions0[spec]
     }
   } else if (spec0 === 'latest') {
@@ -26592,7 +26603,7 @@ function xyzAbcVersion(pref, suf) {
   // https://www.erlang.org/doc/system_principles/versions.html
   const dd = '\\.?(\\d+)?'
   return new RegExp(
-    `${pref}v?(\\d+)${dd}${dd}${dd}${dd}${dd}(?:-rc\\.?\\d+)?(?:-otp-\\d+)?${suf}`,
+    `${pref}(?:OTP-)?v?(\\d+)${dd}${dd}${dd}${dd}${dd}(?:-rc\\.?\\d+)?(?:-otp-\\d+)?${suf}`,
   )
 }
 
diff --git a/src/setup-beam.js b/src/setup-beam.js
index 565b43b..ebada63 100644
--- a/src/setup-beam.js
+++ b/src/setup-beam.js
@@ -448,6 +448,7 @@ function validVersion(v) {
     v.match(
       new RegExp(`${knownBranches.join('|')}|${nonSpecificVersions.join('|')}`),
     ) == null &&
+    // these ones are for rebar3, which has alpha and beta releases
     !v.startsWith('a') &&
     !v.startsWith('b')
   )
@@ -474,7 +475,12 @@ function getVersionFromSpec(spec0, versions0) {
   const altVersions = {}
   Object.entries(versions0).forEach(([version, altVersion]) => {
     let coerced
-    if (isStrictVersion() || isRC(version)) {
+    if (
+      isStrictVersion() ||
+      isRC(version) ||
+      isKnownBranch(version) ||
+      isKnownVerBranch(version)
+    ) {
       // If `version-type: strict` or version is RC, we just try to remove a potential initial v
       coerced = maybeRemoveVPrefix(version)
     } else {
@@ -492,9 +498,14 @@ function getVersionFromSpec(spec0, versions0) {
   const rangeMax = semver.maxSatisfying(versions, rangeForMax)
   let version = null
 
-  if (isStrictVersion() || isRC(spec0) || isKnownBranch(spec0)) {
+  if (
+    isStrictVersion() ||
+    isRC(spec0) ||
+    isKnownBranch(spec0) ||
+    isKnownVerBranch(spec0)
+  ) {
     if (versions0[spec]) {
-      // If `version-type: strict` or version is RC, we obtain it directly
+      // We obtain it directly
       version = versions0[spec]
     }
   } else if (spec0 === 'latest') {
@@ -717,7 +728,7 @@ function xyzAbcVersion(pref, suf) {
   // https://www.erlang.org/doc/system_principles/versions.html
   const dd = '\\.?(\\d+)?'
   return new RegExp(
-    `${pref}v?(\\d+)${dd}${dd}${dd}${dd}${dd}(?:-rc\\.?\\d+)?(?:-otp-\\d+)?${suf}`,
+    `${pref}(?:OTP-)?v?(\\d+)${dd}${dd}${dd}${dd}${dd}(?:-rc\\.?\\d+)?(?:-otp-\\d+)?${suf}`,
   )
 }
 
diff --git a/test/setup-beam.test.js b/test/setup-beam.test.js
index af3f817..45b10a1 100644
--- a/test/setup-beam.test.js
+++ b/test/setup-beam.test.js
@@ -875,11 +875,31 @@ describe('.getVersionFromSpec(_)', () => {
     got = setupBeam.getVersionFromSpec(spec, matrix.otp['ubuntu-20.04'])
     assert.deepStrictEqual(got, expected)
 
+    spec = 'maint-24'
+    expected = 'maint-24'
+    got = setupBeam.getVersionFromSpec(spec, matrix.otp['ubuntu-22.04'])
+    assert.deepStrictEqual(got, expected)
+
+    spec = '> 0'
+    expected = 'OTP-26.2.5'
+    got = setupBeam.getVersionFromSpec(spec, matrix.otp['ubuntu-22.04'])
+    assert.deepStrictEqual(got, expected)
+
     spec = 'latest'
     expected = 'OTP-27.0-rc3'
     got = setupBeam.getVersionFromSpec(spec, matrix.otp['ubuntu-22.04'])
     assert.deepStrictEqual(got, expected)
 
+    spec = 'maint-26'
+    expected = 'maint-26'
+    got = setupBeam.getVersionFromSpec(spec, matrix.otp['ubuntu-22.04'])
+    assert.deepStrictEqual(got, expected)
+
+    spec = '> 0'
+    expected = 'OTP-27.0'
+    got = setupBeam.getVersionFromSpec(spec, matrix.otp['ubuntu-24.04'])
+    assert.deepStrictEqual(got, expected)
+
     spec = 'latest'
     expected = 'OTP-27.0'
     got = setupBeam.getVersionFromSpec(spec, matrix.otp['ubuntu-24.04'])