diff --git a/channels.yaml b/channels.yaml
index bfa83a5f43..7aec636005 100644
--- a/channels.yaml
+++ b/channels.yaml
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 channels:
+- name: stable
+  latest: v1.18.12+rke2r1
 - name: latest
   latestRegexp: .*
   excludeRegexp: ^[^+]+-
diff --git a/install.sh b/install.sh
index a876236130..aa0814796b 100755
--- a/install.sh
+++ b/install.sh
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ setup_env() {
 
     # --- make sure install channel has a value
     if [ -z "${INSTALL_RKE2_CHANNEL}" ]; then
-        INSTALL_RKE2_CHANNEL="latest"
+        INSTALL_RKE2_CHANNEL="stable"
     fi
 
     # --- make sure install type has a value