diff --git a/tools/ci/config/check.yml b/tools/ci/config/check.yml
index ba022c7ce6..8d6cc25854 100644
--- a/tools/ci/config/check.yml
+++ b/tools/ci/config/check.yml
@@ -125,3 +125,16 @@ check_pipeline_triggered_by_label:
     # If the pipeline is triggered with label, the pipeline will only succeeded if "regular_test" label is added.
     # We want to make sure some jobs are always executed to detect regression.
     - test "$BOT_LABEL_REGULAR_TEST" = "true" || { echo "CI can only pass if 'regular_test' label is included"; exit -1; }
+
+# For release tag pipelines only, make sure the tag was created with 'git tag -a' so it will update
+# the version returned by 'git describe'
+check_version_tag:
+  extends: .check_job_template
+  only:
+    refs:
+      - /^v\d+\.\d+(\.\d+)?($|-)/
+    variables:
+      - $BOT_TRIGGER_WITH_LABEL == null
+  script:
+    - (git cat-file -t $CI_COMMIT_REF_NAME | grep tag) || echo "ESP-IDF versions must be annotated tags." && exit 1
+