diff --git a/docs/_ext/djangodocs.py b/docs/_ext/djangodocs.py
index 3d85147952..6c0e1892f4 100644
--- a/docs/_ext/djangodocs.py
+++ b/docs/_ext/djangodocs.py
@@ -65,19 +65,13 @@ class VersionDirective(Directive):
 
     def run(self):
         env = self.state.document.settings.env
-        arg0 = self.arguments[0]
-        is_nextversion = env.config.django_next_version == arg0
         ret = []
         node = addnodes.versionmodified()
         ret.append(node)
-        if not is_nextversion:
-            if len(self.arguments) == 1:
-                linktext = 'Please see the release notes </releases/%s>' % (arg0)
-                xrefs = roles.XRefRole()('doc', linktext, linktext, self.lineno, self.state)
-                node.extend(xrefs[0])
-            node['version'] = arg0
-        else:
+        if self.arguments[0] == env.config.django_next_version:
             node['version'] = "Development version"
+        else:
+            node['version'] = self.arguments[0]
         node['type'] = self.name
         if len(self.arguments) == 2:
             inodes, messages = self.state.inline_text(self.arguments[1], self.lineno+1)