diff --git a/build.lua b/build.lua
index 7b22e9a5f7..018807a9b2 100644
--- a/build.lua
+++ b/build.lua
@@ -57,4 +57,7 @@ end
 
 -- Find and run the build system
 kpse.set_program_name("kpsewhich")
-dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+if not release_date then
+  dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+end
+
diff --git a/contrib/build.lua b/contrib/build.lua
index bf1247cefb..1201eb2db2 100644
--- a/contrib/build.lua
+++ b/contrib/build.lua
@@ -28,4 +28,7 @@ dofile(maindir .. "/build-config.lua")
 
 -- Find and run the build system
 kpse.set_program_name("kpsewhich")
-dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+if not release_date then
+  dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+end
+
diff --git a/l3experimental/build.lua b/l3experimental/build.lua
index f51138ff57..970fb793f4 100644
--- a/l3experimental/build.lua
+++ b/l3experimental/build.lua
@@ -15,4 +15,7 @@ dofile(maindir .. "/build-config.lua")
 
 -- Find and run the build system
 kpse.set_program_name("kpsewhich")
-dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+if not release_date then
+  dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+end
+
diff --git a/l3experimental/l3color/build.lua b/l3experimental/l3color/build.lua
index 831b6f92b9..878ceb13ff 100644
--- a/l3experimental/l3color/build.lua
+++ b/l3experimental/l3color/build.lua
@@ -15,4 +15,7 @@ dofile(maindir .. "/build-config.lua")
 
 -- Find and run the build system
 kpse.set_program_name("kpsewhich")
-dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+if not release_date then
+  dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+end
+
diff --git a/l3experimental/l3draw/build.lua b/l3experimental/l3draw/build.lua
index 62dabc6b2c..264189e9d0 100644
--- a/l3experimental/l3draw/build.lua
+++ b/l3experimental/l3draw/build.lua
@@ -20,4 +20,7 @@ dofile(maindir .. "/build-config.lua")
 
 -- Find and run the build system
 kpse.set_program_name("kpsewhich")
-dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+if not release_date then
+  dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+end
+
diff --git a/l3experimental/l3str/build.lua b/l3experimental/l3str/build.lua
index 7408f27241..3c4b0ef78a 100644
--- a/l3experimental/l3str/build.lua
+++ b/l3experimental/l3str/build.lua
@@ -18,4 +18,7 @@ dofile(maindir .. "/build-config.lua")
 
 -- Find and run the build system
 kpse.set_program_name("kpsewhich")
-dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+if not release_date then
+  dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+end
+
diff --git a/l3experimental/xcoffins/build.lua b/l3experimental/xcoffins/build.lua
index 303b560504..d919c061d0 100644
--- a/l3experimental/xcoffins/build.lua
+++ b/l3experimental/xcoffins/build.lua
@@ -20,4 +20,7 @@ dofile(maindir .. "/build-config.lua")
 
 -- Find and run the build system
 kpse.set_program_name("kpsewhich")
-dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+if not release_date then
+  dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+end
+
diff --git a/l3experimental/xgalley/build.lua b/l3experimental/xgalley/build.lua
index b0eebeb3e3..0de77a53db 100644
--- a/l3experimental/xgalley/build.lua
+++ b/l3experimental/xgalley/build.lua
@@ -18,4 +18,7 @@ dofile(maindir .. "/build-config.lua")
 
 -- Find and run the build system
 kpse.set_program_name("kpsewhich")
-dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+if not release_date then
+  dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+end
+
diff --git a/l3kernel/build.lua b/l3kernel/build.lua
index cd4075e2d2..b82985437f 100644
--- a/l3kernel/build.lua
+++ b/l3kernel/build.lua
@@ -158,4 +158,7 @@ dofile(maindir .. "/build-config.lua")
 
 -- Find and run the build system
 kpse.set_program_name("kpsewhich")
-dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+if not release_date then
+  dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+end
+
diff --git a/l3packages/build.lua b/l3packages/build.lua
index 8dc9fc60c1..1483360876 100644
--- a/l3packages/build.lua
+++ b/l3packages/build.lua
@@ -15,4 +15,7 @@ dofile(maindir .. "/build-config.lua")
 
 -- Find and run the build system
 kpse.set_program_name("kpsewhich")
-dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+if not release_date then
+  dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+end
+
diff --git a/l3packages/l3doc/build.lua b/l3packages/l3doc/build.lua
index baa04f6bd1..6cc6303810 100644
--- a/l3packages/l3doc/build.lua
+++ b/l3packages/l3doc/build.lua
@@ -23,4 +23,7 @@ testfiledir = ""
 
 -- Find and run the build system
 kpse.set_program_name("kpsewhich")
-dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+if not release_date then
+  dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+end
+
diff --git a/l3packages/l3doc/examples/build.lua b/l3packages/l3doc/examples/build.lua
index e8b7739e65..c93465b74d 100644
--- a/l3packages/l3doc/examples/build.lua
+++ b/l3packages/l3doc/examples/build.lua
@@ -6,4 +6,7 @@ module = "l3doc-examples"
 
 -- Find and run the build system
 kpse.set_program_name("kpsewhich")
-dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+if not release_date then
+  dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+end
+
diff --git a/l3packages/l3keys2e/build.lua b/l3packages/l3keys2e/build.lua
index b0a5b6dae8..231e853a82 100644
--- a/l3packages/l3keys2e/build.lua
+++ b/l3packages/l3keys2e/build.lua
@@ -18,4 +18,7 @@ dofile(maindir .. "/build-config.lua")
 
 -- Find and run the build system
 kpse.set_program_name("kpsewhich")
-dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+if not release_date then
+  dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+end
+
diff --git a/l3packages/xfp/build.lua b/l3packages/xfp/build.lua
index 935aa01241..45764c35be 100644
--- a/l3packages/xfp/build.lua
+++ b/l3packages/xfp/build.lua
@@ -18,4 +18,7 @@ dofile(maindir .. "/build-config.lua")
 
 -- Find and run the build system
 kpse.set_program_name("kpsewhich")
-dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+if not release_date then
+  dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+end
+
diff --git a/l3packages/xfrac/build.lua b/l3packages/xfrac/build.lua
index ce97c7d2e5..86b363d86a 100644
--- a/l3packages/xfrac/build.lua
+++ b/l3packages/xfrac/build.lua
@@ -20,4 +20,7 @@ dofile(maindir .. "/build-config.lua")
 
 -- Find and run the build system
 kpse.set_program_name("kpsewhich")
-dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+if not release_date then
+  dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+end
+
diff --git a/l3packages/xparse/build.lua b/l3packages/xparse/build.lua
index 9ef72dfeac..e7b0ee9c50 100644
--- a/l3packages/xparse/build.lua
+++ b/l3packages/xparse/build.lua
@@ -15,4 +15,7 @@ dofile(maindir .. "/build-config.lua")
 
 -- Find and run the build system
 kpse.set_program_name("kpsewhich")
-dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+if not release_date then
+  dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+end
+
diff --git a/l3packages/xtemplate/build.lua b/l3packages/xtemplate/build.lua
index aa5d246076..c0f8f01b71 100644
--- a/l3packages/xtemplate/build.lua
+++ b/l3packages/xtemplate/build.lua
@@ -19,4 +19,7 @@ dofile(maindir .. "/build-config.lua")
 
 -- Find and run the build system
 kpse.set_program_name("kpsewhich")
-dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+if not release_date then
+  dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+end
+
diff --git a/l3trial/build.lua b/l3trial/build.lua
index 61b7ba75ad..e7ee198caf 100644
--- a/l3trial/build.lua
+++ b/l3trial/build.lua
@@ -15,4 +15,7 @@ dofile(maindir .. "/build-config.lua")
 
 -- Find and run the build system
 kpse.set_program_name("kpsewhich")
-dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+if not release_date then
+  dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+end
+
diff --git a/l3trial/l3auxdata/build.lua b/l3trial/l3auxdata/build.lua
index 6baf206074..c92216d8e7 100644
--- a/l3trial/l3auxdata/build.lua
+++ b/l3trial/l3auxdata/build.lua
@@ -19,4 +19,7 @@ dofile(maindir .. "/build-config.lua")
 
 -- Find and run the build system
 kpse.set_program_name("kpsewhich")
-dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+if not release_date then
+  dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+end
+
diff --git a/l3trial/l3benchmark/build.lua b/l3trial/l3benchmark/build.lua
index fc56b5ef0e..8fe86ee120 100644
--- a/l3trial/l3benchmark/build.lua
+++ b/l3trial/l3benchmark/build.lua
@@ -18,4 +18,7 @@ dofile(maindir .. "/build-config.lua")
 
 -- Find and run the build system
 kpse.set_program_name("kpsewhich")
-dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+if not release_date then
+  dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+end
+
diff --git a/l3trial/l3bigint/build.lua b/l3trial/l3bigint/build.lua
index eec3dcb3e8..8c7481654a 100644
--- a/l3trial/l3bigint/build.lua
+++ b/l3trial/l3bigint/build.lua
@@ -15,4 +15,7 @@ dofile(maindir .. "/build-config.lua")
 
 -- Find and run the build system
 kpse.set_program_name("kpsewhich")
-dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+if not release_date then
+  dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+end
+
diff --git a/l3trial/l3check/build.lua b/l3trial/l3check/build.lua
index f201ff4050..5a43b18043 100644
--- a/l3trial/l3check/build.lua
+++ b/l3trial/l3check/build.lua
@@ -18,4 +18,7 @@ dofile(maindir .. "/build-config.lua")
 
 -- Find and run the build system
 kpse.set_program_name("kpsewhich")
-dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+if not release_date then
+  dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+end
+
diff --git a/l3trial/l3fp-extras/build.lua b/l3trial/l3fp-extras/build.lua
index 442c070b23..0877dff50d 100644
--- a/l3trial/l3fp-extras/build.lua
+++ b/l3trial/l3fp-extras/build.lua
@@ -15,4 +15,7 @@ dofile(maindir .. "/build-config.lua")
 
 -- Find and run the build system
 kpse.set_program_name("kpsewhich")
-dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+if not release_date then
+  dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+end
+
diff --git a/l3trial/l3hooks/build.lua b/l3trial/l3hooks/build.lua
index 7db3361762..27ac38efff 100644
--- a/l3trial/l3hooks/build.lua
+++ b/l3trial/l3hooks/build.lua
@@ -18,4 +18,7 @@ dofile(maindir .. "/build-config.lua")
 
 -- Find and run the build system
 kpse.set_program_name("kpsewhich")
-dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+if not release_date then
+  dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+end
+
diff --git a/l3trial/l3htoks/build.lua b/l3trial/l3htoks/build.lua
index 40bc531abc..0f7829bed9 100644
--- a/l3trial/l3htoks/build.lua
+++ b/l3trial/l3htoks/build.lua
@@ -21,4 +21,7 @@ dofile(maindir .. "/build-config.lua")
 
 -- Find and run the build system
 kpse.set_program_name("kpsewhich")
-dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+if not release_date then
+  dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+end
+
diff --git a/l3trial/l3image/build.lua b/l3trial/l3image/build.lua
index 821b3fd8af..5ec3b3a3cb 100644
--- a/l3trial/l3image/build.lua
+++ b/l3trial/l3image/build.lua
@@ -15,4 +15,7 @@ dofile(maindir .. "/build-config.lua")
 
 -- Find and run the build system
 kpse.set_program_name("kpsewhich")
-dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+if not release_date then
+  dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+end
+
diff --git a/l3trial/l3kernel-extras/build.lua b/l3trial/l3kernel-extras/build.lua
index 553c60eae6..7ebd3db416 100644
--- a/l3trial/l3kernel-extras/build.lua
+++ b/l3trial/l3kernel-extras/build.lua
@@ -18,4 +18,7 @@ dofile(maindir .. "/build-config.lua")
 
 -- Find and run the build system
 kpse.set_program_name("kpsewhich")
-dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+if not release_date then
+  dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+end
+
diff --git a/l3trial/l3ldb/build.lua b/l3trial/l3ldb/build.lua
index 155d9ee2c9..c875a6b137 100644
--- a/l3trial/l3ldb/build.lua
+++ b/l3trial/l3ldb/build.lua
@@ -31,4 +31,7 @@ dofile(maindir .. "/build-config.lua")
 
 -- Find and run the build system
 kpse.set_program_name("kpsewhich")
-dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+if not release_date then
+  dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+end
+
diff --git a/l3trial/l3str-format-new/build.lua b/l3trial/l3str-format-new/build.lua
index 9f01e3e1b2..b41536eb41 100644
--- a/l3trial/l3str-format-new/build.lua
+++ b/l3trial/l3str-format-new/build.lua
@@ -18,4 +18,7 @@ dofile(maindir .. "/build-config.lua")
 
 -- Find and run the build system
 kpse.set_program_name("kpsewhich")
-dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+if not release_date then
+  dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+end
+
diff --git a/l3trial/l3trace/build.lua b/l3trial/l3trace/build.lua
index 1623319914..c34bd1c1e8 100644
--- a/l3trial/l3trace/build.lua
+++ b/l3trial/l3trace/build.lua
@@ -15,4 +15,7 @@ dofile(maindir .. "/build-config.lua")
 
 -- Find and run the build system
 kpse.set_program_name("kpsewhich")
-dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+if not release_date then
+  dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+end
+
diff --git a/l3trial/l3tree/build.lua b/l3trial/l3tree/build.lua
index df7d3aa2aa..636450a611 100644
--- a/l3trial/l3tree/build.lua
+++ b/l3trial/l3tree/build.lua
@@ -15,4 +15,7 @@ dofile(maindir .. "/build-config.lua")
 
 -- Find and run the build system
 kpse.set_program_name("kpsewhich")
-dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+if not release_date then
+  dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+end
+
diff --git a/l3trial/xbox/build.lua b/l3trial/xbox/build.lua
index 5537bf8c16..9bd0ce92b4 100644
--- a/l3trial/xbox/build.lua
+++ b/l3trial/xbox/build.lua
@@ -19,4 +19,7 @@ dofile(maindir .. "/build-config.lua")
 
 -- Find and run the build system
 kpse.set_program_name("kpsewhich")
-dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+if not release_date then
+  dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+end
+
diff --git a/l3trial/xfont/build.lua b/l3trial/xfont/build.lua
index c1eb137283..02f6fcf6f0 100644
--- a/l3trial/xfont/build.lua
+++ b/l3trial/xfont/build.lua
@@ -25,4 +25,7 @@ dofile(maindir .. "/build-config.lua")
 
 -- Find and run the build system
 kpse.set_program_name("kpsewhich")
-dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+if not release_date then
+  dofile(kpse.lookup("l3build.lua"))
+end
+