diff --git a/sentry/__init__.py b/sentry/__init__.py
index 20516b970..916ea8885 100644
--- a/sentry/__init__.py
+++ b/sentry/__init__.py
@@ -46,11 +46,7 @@ def initialize_raven(config, client_cls=None):
         _logger.debug(
             "Both sentry_odoo_dir and sentry_release defined, choosing sentry_release"
         )
-    options = {
-        "release": config.get(
-            "sentry_release", get_odoo_commit(config.get("sentry_odoo_dir"))
-        )
-    }
+    options = {}
     for option in const.get_sentry_options():
         value = config.get("sentry_%s" % option.key, option.default)
         if isinstance(option.converter, abc.Callable):
@@ -64,6 +60,11 @@ def initialize_raven(config, client_cls=None):
     if level not in const.LOG_LEVEL_MAP:
         level = const.DEFAULT_LOG_LEVEL
 
+    if not options.get("release"):
+        options["release"] = config.get(
+            "sentry_release", get_odoo_commit(config.get("sentry_odoo_dir"))
+        )
+
     client_cls = client_cls or raven.Client
     client = client_cls(**options)
     handler = OdooSentryHandler(
diff --git a/sentry/tests/test_client.py b/sentry/tests/test_client.py
index eb68c7137..49bfe8f61 100644
--- a/sentry/tests/test_client.py
+++ b/sentry/tests/test_client.py
@@ -6,12 +6,16 @@ import sys
 import unittest
 
 import raven
+from mock import patch
 
 from odoo import exceptions
 
 from .. import initialize_raven
 from ..logutils import OdooSentryHandler
 
+GIT_SHA = "d670460b4b4aece5915caf5c68d12f560a9fe3e4"
+RELEASE = "test@1.2.3"
+
 
 def log_handler_by_class(logger, handler_cls):
     for handler in logger.handlers:
@@ -117,3 +121,32 @@ class TestClientSetup(unittest.TestCase):
         record = logging.LogRecord(__name__, level, __file__, 42, msg, (), exc_info)
         handler.emit(record)
         self.assertEventNotCaptured(client, level, msg)
+
+    @patch("odoo.addons.sentry.get_odoo_commit", return_value=GIT_SHA)
+    def test_config_odoo_dir(self, get_odoo_commit):
+        config = {
+            "sentry_enabled": True,
+            "sentry_dsn": "http://public:secret@example.com/1",
+            "sentry_odoo_dir": "/opt/odoo/core",
+        }
+        client = initialize_raven(config, client_cls=InMemoryClient)
+        self.assertEqual(
+            client.release,
+            GIT_SHA,
+            "Failed to use 'sentry_odoo_dir' parameter appropriately",
+        )
+
+    @patch("odoo.addons.sentry.get_odoo_commit", return_value=GIT_SHA)
+    def test_config_release(self, get_odoo_commit):
+        config = {
+            "sentry_enabled": True,
+            "sentry_dsn": "http://public:secret@example.com/1",
+            "sentry_odoo_dir": "/opt/odoo/core",
+            "sentry_release": RELEASE,
+        }
+        client = initialize_raven(config, client_cls=InMemoryClient)
+        self.assertEqual(
+            client.release,
+            RELEASE,
+            "Failed to use 'sentry_release' parameter appropriately",
+        )