diff --git a/__tests__/setup-go.test.ts b/__tests__/setup-go.test.ts
index db94e82de..ba54900f9 100644
--- a/__tests__/setup-go.test.ts
+++ b/__tests__/setup-go.test.ts
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ describe('setup-go', () => {
     os.arch = 'x64';
 
     // spec: 1.13.0 => 1.13
-    let match: im.IGoVersion | undefined = await im.findMatch('1.13.0', true);
+    let match: im.IGoVersion | undefined = await im.findMatch('1.13.0');
     expect(match).toBeDefined();
     let version: string = match ? match.version : '';
     expect(version).toBe('go1.13');
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ describe('setup-go', () => {
     os.arch = 'x64';
 
     // spec: 1.13 => 1.13.7 (latest)
-    let match: im.IGoVersion | undefined = await im.findMatch('1.13', true);
+    let match: im.IGoVersion | undefined = await im.findMatch('1.13');
     expect(match).toBeDefined();
     let version: string = match ? match.version : '';
     expect(version).toBe('go1.13.7');
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ describe('setup-go', () => {
     os.arch = 'x64';
 
     // spec: ^1.13.6 => 1.13.7
-    let match: im.IGoVersion | undefined = await im.findMatch('^1.13.6', true);
+    let match: im.IGoVersion | undefined = await im.findMatch('^1.13.6');
     expect(match).toBeDefined();
     let version: string = match ? match.version : '';
     expect(version).toBe('go1.13.7');
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ describe('setup-go', () => {
     os.arch = 'x32';
 
     // spec: 1 => 1.13.7 (latest)
-    let match: im.IGoVersion | undefined = await im.findMatch('1', true);
+    let match: im.IGoVersion | undefined = await im.findMatch('1');
     expect(match).toBeDefined();
     let version: string = match ? match.version : '';
     expect(version).toBe('go1.13.7');
@@ -199,10 +199,7 @@ describe('setup-go', () => {
     os.arch = 'x64';
 
     // spec: 1.14, stable=false => go1.14rc1
-    let match: im.IGoVersion | undefined = await im.findMatch(
-      '1.14.0-rc1',
-      false
-    );
+    let match: im.IGoVersion | undefined = await im.findMatch('1.14.0-rc.1');
     expect(match).toBeDefined();
     let version: string = match ? match.version : '';
     expect(version).toBe('go1.14rc1');
@@ -218,7 +215,7 @@ describe('setup-go', () => {
     findSpy.mockImplementation(() => toolPath);
     await main.run();
 
-    expect(logSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(`Setup go stable version spec 1.13.0`);
+    expect(logSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(`Setup go version spec 1.13.0`);
   });
 
   it('evaluates to stable with no input', async () => {
@@ -230,7 +227,7 @@ describe('setup-go', () => {
     findSpy.mockImplementation(() => toolPath);
     await main.run();
 
-    expect(logSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(`Setup go stable version spec 1.13.0`);
+    expect(logSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(`Setup go version spec 1.13.0`);
   });
 
   it('finds a version of go already in the cache', async () => {
@@ -396,7 +393,7 @@ describe('setup-go', () => {
     await main.run();
 
     let expPath = path.join(toolPath, 'bin');
-    expect(logSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith('Setup go stable version spec 1.12.14');
+    expect(logSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith('Setup go version spec 1.12.14');
     expect(findSpy).toHaveBeenCalled();
     expect(logSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith('Attempting to download 1.12.14...');
     expect(dlSpy).toHaveBeenCalled();
@@ -560,11 +557,11 @@ describe('setup-go', () => {
 
   // 1.13.1 => 1.13.1
   // 1.13 => 1.13.0
-  // 1.10beta1 => 1.10.0-beta1, 1.10rc1 => 1.10.0-rc1
-  // 1.8.5beta1 => 1.8.5-beta1, 1.8.5rc1 => 1.8.5-rc1
+  // 1.10beta1 => 1.10.0-beta.1, 1.10rc1 => 1.10.0-rc.1
+  // 1.8.5beta1 => 1.8.5-beta.1, 1.8.5rc1 => 1.8.5-rc.1
   it('converts prerelease versions', async () => {
-    expect(im.makeSemver('1.10beta1')).toBe('1.10.0-beta1');
-    expect(im.makeSemver('1.10rc1')).toBe('1.10.0-rc1');
+    expect(im.makeSemver('1.10beta1')).toBe('1.10.0-beta.1');
+    expect(im.makeSemver('1.10rc1')).toBe('1.10.0-rc.1');
   });
 
   it('converts dot zero versions', async () => {
@@ -608,7 +605,7 @@ describe('setup-go', () => {
 
       await main.run();
 
-      expect(logSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith('Setup go stable version spec 1.16');
+      expect(logSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith('Setup go version spec 1.16');
       expect(logSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(`Found in cache @ ${toolPath}`);
     });
 
@@ -633,7 +630,7 @@ describe('setup-go', () => {
       await main.run();
 
       expect(logSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
-        `Setup go stable version spec ${versionSpec}`
+        `Setup go version spec ${versionSpec}`
       );
       expect(logSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
         'Attempting to resolve the latest version from the manifest...'
diff --git a/action.yml b/action.yml
index 5706f1b86..8bbaebef5 100644
--- a/action.yml
+++ b/action.yml
@@ -7,9 +7,6 @@ inputs:
   check-latest:
     description: 'Set this option to true if you want the action to always check for the latest available version that satisfies the version spec'
     default: false
-  stable:
-    description: 'Whether to download only stable versions'
-    default: 'true'
   token:
     description: Used to pull node distributions from go-versions.  Since there's a default, this is typically not supplied by the user.
     default: ${{ github.token }}
diff --git a/dist/index.js b/dist/index.js
index 59a4067ce..ac3d0e5c1 100644
--- a/dist/index.js
+++ b/dist/index.js
@@ -2074,15 +2074,12 @@ function run() {
             // If not supplied then problem matchers will still be setup.  Useful for self-hosted.
             //
             let versionSpec = core.getInput('go-version');
-            // stable will be true unless false is the exact input
-            // since getting unstable versions should be explicit
-            let stable = (core.getInput('stable') || 'true').toUpperCase() === 'TRUE';
-            core.info(`Setup go ${stable ? 'stable' : ''} version spec ${versionSpec}`);
+            core.info(`Setup go version spec ${versionSpec}`);
             if (versionSpec) {
                 let token = core.getInput('token');
                 let auth = !token || isGhes() ? undefined : `token ${token}`;
                 const checkLatest = core.getBooleanInput('check-latest');
-                const installDir = yield installer.getGo(versionSpec, stable, checkLatest, auth);
+                const installDir = yield installer.getGo(versionSpec, checkLatest, auth);
                 core.exportVariable('GOROOT', installDir);
                 core.addPath(path_1.default.join(installDir, 'bin'));
                 core.info('Added go to the path');
@@ -5718,7 +5715,7 @@ module.exports = bytesToUuid;
 
 Object.defineProperty(exports, "__esModule", { value: true });
 exports.getArch = exports.getPlatform = void 0;
-let os = __webpack_require__(87);
+const os = __webpack_require__(87);
 function getPlatform() {
     // darwin and linux match already
     // freebsd not supported yet but future proofed.
@@ -5890,13 +5887,13 @@ const semver = __importStar(__webpack_require__(280));
 const httpm = __importStar(__webpack_require__(539));
 const sys = __importStar(__webpack_require__(737));
 const os_1 = __importDefault(__webpack_require__(87));
-function getGo(versionSpec, stable, checkLatest, auth) {
+function getGo(versionSpec, checkLatest, auth) {
     return __awaiter(this, void 0, void 0, function* () {
         let osPlat = os_1.default.platform();
         let osArch = os_1.default.arch();
         if (checkLatest) {
             core.info('Attempting to resolve the latest version from the manifest...');
-            const resolvedVersion = yield resolveVersionFromManifest(versionSpec, stable, auth);
+            const resolvedVersion = yield resolveVersionFromManifest(versionSpec, true, auth);
             if (resolvedVersion) {
                 versionSpec = resolvedVersion;
                 core.info(`Resolved as '${versionSpec}'`);
@@ -5920,7 +5917,7 @@ function getGo(versionSpec, stable, checkLatest, auth) {
         // Try download from internal distribution (popular versions only)
         //
         try {
-            info = yield getInfoFromManifest(versionSpec, stable, auth);
+            info = yield getInfoFromManifest(versionSpec, true, auth);
             if (info) {
                 downloadPath = yield installGoVersion(info, auth);
             }
@@ -5943,7 +5940,7 @@ function getGo(versionSpec, stable, checkLatest, auth) {
         // Download from storage.googleapis.com
         //
         if (!downloadPath) {
-            info = yield getInfoFromDist(versionSpec, stable);
+            info = yield getInfoFromDist(versionSpec);
             if (!info) {
                 throw new Error(`Unable to find Go version '${versionSpec}' for platform ${osPlat} and architecture ${osArch}.`);
             }
@@ -6018,10 +6015,10 @@ function getInfoFromManifest(versionSpec, stable, auth) {
     });
 }
 exports.getInfoFromManifest = getInfoFromManifest;
-function getInfoFromDist(versionSpec, stable) {
+function getInfoFromDist(versionSpec) {
     return __awaiter(this, void 0, void 0, function* () {
         let version;
-        version = yield findMatch(versionSpec, stable);
+        version = yield findMatch(versionSpec);
         if (!version) {
             return null;
         }
@@ -6034,7 +6031,7 @@ function getInfoFromDist(versionSpec, stable) {
         };
     });
 }
-function findMatch(versionSpec, stable) {
+function findMatch(versionSpec) {
     return __awaiter(this, void 0, void 0, function* () {
         let archFilter = sys.getArch();
         let platFilter = sys.getPlatform();
@@ -6049,15 +6046,8 @@ function findMatch(versionSpec, stable) {
         for (let i = 0; i < candidates.length; i++) {
             let candidate = candidates[i];
             let version = makeSemver(candidate.version);
-            // 1.13.0 is advertised as 1.13 preventing being able to match exactly 1.13.0
-            // since a semver of 1.13 would match latest 1.13
-            let parts = version.split('.');
-            if (parts.length == 2) {
-                version = version + '.0';
-            }
             core.debug(`check ${version} satisfies ${versionSpec}`);
-            if (semver.satisfies(version, versionSpec) &&
-                (!stable || candidate.stable === stable)) {
+            if (semver.satisfies(version, versionSpec)) {
                 goFile = candidate.files.find(file => {
                     core.debug(`${file.arch}===${archFilter} && ${file.os}===${platFilter}`);
                     return file.arch === archFilter && file.os === platFilter;
@@ -6093,19 +6083,25 @@ exports.getVersionsDist = getVersionsDist;
 // Convert the go version syntax into semver for semver matching
 // 1.13.1 => 1.13.1
 // 1.13 => 1.13.0
-// 1.10beta1 => 1.10.0-beta1, 1.10rc1 => 1.10.0-rc1
-// 1.8.5beta1 => 1.8.5-beta1, 1.8.5rc1 => 1.8.5-rc1
+// 1.10beta1 => 1.10.0-beta.1, 1.10rc1 => 1.10.0-rc.1
+// 1.8.5beta1 => 1.8.5-beta.1, 1.8.5rc1 => 1.8.5-rc.1
 function makeSemver(version) {
+    var _a;
     version = version.replace('go', '');
-    version = version.replace('beta', '-beta').replace('rc', '-rc');
+    version = version.replace('beta', '-beta.').replace('rc', '-rc.');
     let parts = version.split('-');
-    let verPart = parts[0];
-    let prereleasePart = parts.length > 1 ? `-${parts[1]}` : '';
-    let verParts = verPart.split('.');
-    if (verParts.length == 2) {
-        verPart += '.0';
+    let semVersion = (_a = semver.coerce(parts[0])) === null || _a === void 0 ? void 0 : _a.version;
+    if (!semVersion) {
+        throw new Error(`The version: ${version} can't be changed to SemVer notation`);
+    }
+    if (!parts[1]) {
+        return semVersion;
+    }
+    const fullVersion = semver.valid(`${semVersion}-${parts[1]}`);
+    if (!fullVersion) {
+        throw new Error(`The version: ${version} can't be changed to SemVer notation`);
     }
-    return `${verPart}${prereleasePart}`;
+    return fullVersion;
 }
 exports.makeSemver = makeSemver;
 //# sourceMappingURL=installer.js.map
diff --git a/src/installer.ts b/src/installer.ts
index ee45c6485..46eecc35a 100644
--- a/src/installer.ts
+++ b/src/installer.ts
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@ export interface IGoVersionInfo {
 
 export async function getGo(
   versionSpec: string,
-  stable: boolean,
   checkLatest: boolean,
   auth: string | undefined
 ) {
@@ -41,7 +40,7 @@ export async function getGo(
     core.info('Attempting to resolve the latest version from the manifest...');
     const resolvedVersion = await resolveVersionFromManifest(
       versionSpec,
-      stable,
+      true,
       auth
     );
     if (resolvedVersion) {
@@ -68,7 +67,7 @@ export async function getGo(
   // Try download from internal distribution (popular versions only)
   //
   try {
-    info = await getInfoFromManifest(versionSpec, stable, auth);
+    info = await getInfoFromManifest(versionSpec, true, auth);
     if (info) {
       downloadPath = await installGoVersion(info, auth);
     } else {
@@ -95,7 +94,7 @@ export async function getGo(
   // Download from storage.googleapis.com
   //
   if (!downloadPath) {
-    info = await getInfoFromDist(versionSpec, stable);
+    info = await getInfoFromDist(versionSpec);
     if (!info) {
       throw new Error(
         `Unable to find Go version '${versionSpec}' for platform ${osPlat} and architecture ${osArch}.`
@@ -191,11 +190,10 @@ export async function getInfoFromManifest(
 }
 
 async function getInfoFromDist(
-  versionSpec: string,
-  stable: boolean
+  versionSpec: string
 ): Promise<IGoVersionInfo | null> {
   let version: IGoVersion | undefined;
-  version = await findMatch(versionSpec, stable);
+  version = await findMatch(versionSpec);
   if (!version) {
     return null;
   }
@@ -211,8 +209,7 @@ async function getInfoFromDist(
 }
 
 export async function findMatch(
-  versionSpec: string,
-  stable: boolean
+  versionSpec: string
 ): Promise<IGoVersion | undefined> {
   let archFilter = sys.getArch();
   let platFilter = sys.getPlatform();
@@ -233,18 +230,8 @@ export async function findMatch(
     let candidate: IGoVersion = candidates[i];
     let version = makeSemver(candidate.version);
 
-    // 1.13.0 is advertised as 1.13 preventing being able to match exactly 1.13.0
-    // since a semver of 1.13 would match latest 1.13
-    let parts: string[] = version.split('.');
-    if (parts.length == 2) {
-      version = version + '.0';
-    }
-
     core.debug(`check ${version} satisfies ${versionSpec}`);
-    if (
-      semver.satisfies(version, versionSpec) &&
-      (!stable || candidate.stable === stable)
-    ) {
+    if (semver.satisfies(version, versionSpec)) {
       goFile = candidate.files.find(file => {
         core.debug(
           `${file.arch}===${archFilter} && ${file.os}===${platFilter}`
@@ -284,20 +271,30 @@ export async function getVersionsDist(
 // Convert the go version syntax into semver for semver matching
 // 1.13.1 => 1.13.1
 // 1.13 => 1.13.0
-// 1.10beta1 => 1.10.0-beta1, 1.10rc1 => 1.10.0-rc1
-// 1.8.5beta1 => 1.8.5-beta1, 1.8.5rc1 => 1.8.5-rc1
+// 1.10beta1 => 1.10.0-beta.1, 1.10rc1 => 1.10.0-rc.1
+// 1.8.5beta1 => 1.8.5-beta.1, 1.8.5rc1 => 1.8.5-rc.1
 export function makeSemver(version: string): string {
   version = version.replace('go', '');
-  version = version.replace('beta', '-beta').replace('rc', '-rc');
+  version = version.replace('beta', '-beta.').replace('rc', '-rc.');
   let parts = version.split('-');
 
-  let verPart: string = parts[0];
-  let prereleasePart = parts.length > 1 ? `-${parts[1]}` : '';
+  let semVersion = semver.coerce(parts[0])?.version;
+  if (!semVersion) {
+    throw new Error(
+      `The version: ${version} can't be changed to SemVer notation`
+    );
+  }
 
-  let verParts: string[] = verPart.split('.');
-  if (verParts.length == 2) {
-    verPart += '.0';
+  if (!parts[1]) {
+    return semVersion;
   }
 
-  return `${verPart}${prereleasePart}`;
+  const fullVersion = semver.valid(`${semVersion}-${parts[1]}`);
+
+  if (!fullVersion) {
+    throw new Error(
+      `The version: ${version} can't be changed to SemVer notation`
+    );
+  }
+  return fullVersion;
 }
diff --git a/src/main.ts b/src/main.ts
index 5837dee86..f785b85da 100644
--- a/src/main.ts
+++ b/src/main.ts
@@ -14,23 +14,14 @@ export async function run() {
     //
     let versionSpec = core.getInput('go-version');
 
-    // stable will be true unless false is the exact input
-    // since getting unstable versions should be explicit
-    let stable = (core.getInput('stable') || 'true').toUpperCase() === 'TRUE';
-
-    core.info(`Setup go ${stable ? 'stable' : ''} version spec ${versionSpec}`);
+    core.info(`Setup go version spec ${versionSpec}`);
 
     if (versionSpec) {
       let token = core.getInput('token');
       let auth = !token || isGhes() ? undefined : `token ${token}`;
 
       const checkLatest = core.getBooleanInput('check-latest');
-      const installDir = await installer.getGo(
-        versionSpec,
-        stable,
-        checkLatest,
-        auth
-      );
+      const installDir = await installer.getGo(versionSpec, checkLatest, auth);
 
       core.exportVariable('GOROOT', installDir);
       core.addPath(path.join(installDir, 'bin'));
diff --git a/src/system.ts b/src/system.ts
index 8dfad42fd..6973f9998 100644
--- a/src/system.ts
+++ b/src/system.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-let os = require('os');
+const os = require('os');
 
 export function getPlatform(): string {
   // darwin and linux match already