diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d9ac0c3..b4cf7f7 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -404,12 +404,13 @@ attribute.
 | `v1.2.3`           | `v{{major}}`                                             | `v1`                 |
 | `v1.2.3`           | `{{minor}}`                                              | `2`                  |
 | `v1.2.3`           | `{{patch}}`                                              | `3`                  |
-| `v2.0.8-beta.67`   | `{{raw}}`                                                | `2.0.8-beta.67`*     |
+| `v2.0.8-beta.67`   | `{{raw}}`                                                | `v2.0.8-beta.67`     |
 | `v2.0.8-beta.67`   | `{{version}}`                                            | `2.0.8-beta.67`      |
 | `v2.0.8-beta.67`   | `{{major}}.{{minor}}`                                    | `2.0.8-beta.67`*     |
 
-> *Pre-release (rc, beta, alpha) will only extend `{{version}}` as tag because they are updated frequently,
-> and contain many breaking changes that are (by the author's design) not yet fit for public consumption.
+> *Pre-release (rc, beta, alpha) will only extend `{{version}}` (or `{{raw}}` if specified) as tag
+> because they are updated frequently, and contain many breaking changes that are (by the author's design)
+> not yet fit for public consumption.
 
 Extended attributes and default values:
 
@@ -446,15 +447,16 @@ custom value through `value` attribute.
 | `v1.2.3`           | `{{version}}`                                            | `1.2.3`              |
 | `1.2.3`            | `{{major}}.{{minor}}`                                    | `1.2`                |
 | `1.2.3`            | `v{{major}}`                                             | `v1`                 |
-| `1.2.3rc2`         | `{{raw}}`                                                | `1.2.3rc2`*          |
+| `v1.2.3rc2`        | `{{raw}}`                                                | `v1.2.3rc2`          |
 | `1.2.3rc2`         | `{{version}}`                                            | `1.2.3rc2`           |
 | `1.2.3rc2`         | `{{major}}.{{minor}}`                                    | `1.2.3rc2`*          |
 | `1.2.3post1`       | `{{major}}.{{minor}}`                                    | `1.2.3.post1`*       |
 | `1.2.3beta2`       | `{{major}}.{{minor}}`                                    | `1.2.3b2`*           |
 | `1.0dev4`          | `{{major}}.{{minor}}`                                    | `1.0.dev4`*          |
 
-> *dev/pre/post release will only extend `{{version}}` as tag because they are updated frequently,
-> and contain many breaking changes that are (by the author's design) not yet fit for public consumption.
+> *dev/pre/post release will only extend `{{version}}` (or `{{raw}}` if specified) as tag
+> because they are updated frequently, and contain many breaking changes that are (by the author's design)
+> not yet fit for public consumption.
 
 Extended attributes and default values:
 
diff --git a/__tests__/fixtures/event_tag_v1.2.3rc2.env b/__tests__/fixtures/event_tag_v1.2.3rc2.env
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..998a3c9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/__tests__/fixtures/event_tag_v1.2.3rc2.env
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+GITHUB_ACTION=crazy-maxghaction-dump-context
+GITHUB_ACTIONS=true
+GITHUB_ACTION_PATH=/home/runner/work/_actions/crazy-max/ghaction-dump-context/v1
+GITHUB_ACTOR=crazy-max
+GITHUB_API_URL=https://api.github.com
+GITHUB_BASE_REF=
+GITHUB_ENV=/home/runner/work/_temp/_runner_file_commands/set_env_6ee180c2-b331-434a-a867-89534cbefd83
+GITHUB_EVENT_NAME=push
+#GITHUB_EVENT_PATH=/home/runner/work/_temp/_github_workflow/event.json
+GITHUB_GRAPHQL_URL=https://api.github.com/graphql
+GITHUB_HEAD_REF=
+GITHUB_JOB=event
+GITHUB_PATH=/home/runner/work/_temp/_runner_file_commands/add_path_6ee180c2-b331-434a-a867-89534cbefd83
+GITHUB_REF=refs/tags/v1.2.3rc2
+GITHUB_REPOSITORY=crazy-max/test-docker-action
+GITHUB_REPOSITORY_OWNER=crazy-max
+GITHUB_RETENTION_DAYS=90
+GITHUB_RUN_ID=325968230
+GITHUB_RUN_NUMBER=4
+GITHUB_SERVER_URL=https://github.com
+GITHUB_SHA=90dd6032fac8bda1b6c4436a2e65de27961ed071
+GITHUB_WORKFLOW=event
+GITHUB_WORKSPACE=/home/runner/work/test-docker-action/test-docker-action
diff --git a/__tests__/meta.test.ts b/__tests__/meta.test.ts
index 58cdd54..1b5852b 100644
--- a/__tests__/meta.test.ts
+++ b/__tests__/meta.test.ts
@@ -1700,6 +1700,38 @@ describe('tag', () => {
         "org.opencontainers.image.licenses=MIT"
       ]
     ],
+    [
+      'tag32',
+      'event_tag_v1.2.3rc2.env',
+      {
+        images: ['org/app', 'ghcr.io/user/app'],
+        tags: [
+          `type=pep440,pattern={{raw}}`,
+          `type=pep440,pattern={{major}}.{{minor}}`
+        ]
+      } as Inputs,
+      {
+        main: 'v1.2.3rc2',
+        partial: ['1.2.3rc2'],
+        latest: false
+      } as Version,
+      [
+        'org/app:v1.2.3rc2',
+        'org/app:1.2.3rc2',
+        'ghcr.io/user/app:v1.2.3rc2',
+        'ghcr.io/user/app:1.2.3rc2'
+      ],
+      [
+        "org.opencontainers.image.title=Hello-World",
+        "org.opencontainers.image.description=This your first repo!",
+        "org.opencontainers.image.url=https://github.com/octocat/Hello-World",
+        "org.opencontainers.image.source=https://github.com/octocat/Hello-World",
+        "org.opencontainers.image.version=v1.2.3rc2",
+        "org.opencontainers.image.created=2020-01-10T00:30:00.000Z",
+        "org.opencontainers.image.revision=90dd6032fac8bda1b6c4436a2e65de27961ed071",
+        "org.opencontainers.image.licenses=MIT"
+      ]
+    ],
   ])('given %p with %p event', tagsLabelsTest);
 });
 
diff --git a/dist/index.js b/dist/index.js
index e21525c..de6d333 100644
--- a/dist/index.js
+++ b/dist/index.js
@@ -557,7 +557,12 @@ class Meta {
         let latest = false;
         const pver = pep440.explain(vraw);
         if (pver.is_prerelease || pver.is_postrelease || pver.is_devrelease) {
-            vraw = this.setValue(pep440.clean(vraw), tag);
+            if (Meta.isRawStatement(tag.attrs['pattern'])) {
+                vraw = this.setValue(vraw, tag);
+            }
+            else {
+                vraw = this.setValue(pep440.clean(vraw), tag);
+            }
         }
         else {
             vraw = this.setValue(handlebars.compile(tag.attrs['pattern'])({
diff --git a/src/meta.ts b/src/meta.ts
index b04e95f..52b4a2e 100644
--- a/src/meta.ts
+++ b/src/meta.ts
@@ -175,7 +175,11 @@ export class Meta {
     let latest: boolean = false;
     const pver = pep440.explain(vraw);
     if (pver.is_prerelease || pver.is_postrelease || pver.is_devrelease) {
-      vraw = this.setValue(pep440.clean(vraw), tag);
+      if (Meta.isRawStatement(tag.attrs['pattern'])) {
+        vraw = this.setValue(vraw, tag);
+      } else {
+        vraw = this.setValue(pep440.clean(vraw), tag);
+      }
     } else {
       vraw = this.setValue(
         handlebars.compile(tag.attrs['pattern'])({