diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 57536476..764e1ffd 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -609,11 +609,10 @@ Enable SpongeVanilla server mode by adding a `-e TYPE=SPONGEVANILLA` to your com
     
 By default the container will run the latest `STABLE` version.
 If you want to run a specific version, you can add `-e SPONGEVERSION=1.11.2-6.1.0-BETA-19` to your command-line.
-Because the Minecraft version of the SpongeVanilla server cannot be automatically guessed, the `VERSION` should also be set accordingly.
     
 Beware that current [Sponge](https://www.spongepowered.org) `STABLE` versions for Minecraft 1.12 require using [the Java 8 tag](#running-minecraft-server-on-different-java-version):
     
-    docker run -d -v /path/on/host:/data -e TYPE=SPONGEVANILLA -e VERSION=1.12.2 \
+    docker run -d -v /path/on/host:/data -e TYPE=SPONGEVANILLA \
         -p 25565:25565 -e EULA=TRUE --name mc itzg/minecraft-server:java8-multiarch
 
 You can also choose to use the `EXPERIMENTAL` branch.
diff --git a/scripts/start-deploySpongeVanilla b/scripts/start-deploySpongeVanilla
index d6a0ec39..07e88183 100755
--- a/scripts/start-deploySpongeVanilla
+++ b/scripts/start-deploySpongeVanilla
@@ -24,12 +24,14 @@ esac
 if [ -z $SPONGEVERSION ]; then
   log "Choosing Version for Sponge"
   if [ "$SPONGEBRANCH" == "stable" ]; then
-    export SPONGEVERSION=`curl -fsSL https://dl-api.spongepowered.org/v1/org.spongepowered/$TYPE | jq -r '.buildTypes.stable.latest.version'`
+    SPONGEVERSION=`curl -fsSL https://dl-api.spongepowered.org/v1/org.spongepowered/$TYPE | jq -r '.buildTypes.stable.latest.version'`
   else
-    export SPONGEVERSION=`curl -fsSL https://dl-api.spongepowered.org/v1/org.spongepowered/$TYPE | jq -r '.buildTypes.bleeding.latest.version'`
+    SPONGEVERSION=`curl -fsSL https://dl-api.spongepowered.org/v1/org.spongepowered/$TYPE | jq -r '.buildTypes.bleeding.latest.version'`
   fi
 fi
 
+VANILLA_VERSION="$SPONGEVERSION"
+export VANILLA_VERSION
 export SERVER="spongevanilla-$SPONGEVERSION.jar"
 
 if [ ! -e $SERVER ] || [ -n "$FORCE_REDOWNLOAD" ]; then
diff --git a/tests/setuponlytests/spongevanilla_version_compare/docker-compose.yml b/tests/setuponlytests/spongevanilla_version_compare/docker-compose.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8999a9c7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/setuponlytests/spongevanilla_version_compare/docker-compose.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+version: "3"
+
+services:
+  mc:
+    restart: "no"
+    image: ${IMAGE_TO_TEST:-itzg/minecraft-server}
+    environment:
+      EULA: "TRUE"
+      SETUP_ONLY: "TRUE"
+      TYPE: "SPONGEVANILLA"
+      SPONGEVERSION: "1.12.2-7.3.1-RC391"
+      DIFFICULTY: "0"
+
+    volumes:
+      - ./data:/data
diff --git a/tests/setuponlytests/spongevanilla_version_compare/verify.sh b/tests/setuponlytests/spongevanilla_version_compare/verify.sh
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..74b001b5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/setuponlytests/spongevanilla_version_compare/verify.sh
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+mc-image-helper assert propertyEquals --file=server.properties --property=difficulty --expect=0