diff --git a/pkg/plugins/manager/pipeline/bootstrap/steps.go b/pkg/plugins/manager/pipeline/bootstrap/steps.go
index f2d61e58e91..9cfb92ea3cd 100644
--- a/pkg/plugins/manager/pipeline/bootstrap/steps.go
+++ b/pkg/plugins/manager/pipeline/bootstrap/steps.go
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ func DefaultConstructFunc(signatureCalculator plugins.SignatureCalculator, asset
 func DefaultDecorateFuncs(cfg *config.Cfg) []DecorateFunc {
 	return []DecorateFunc{
 		AppDefaultNavURLDecorateFunc,
+		TemplateDecorateFunc,
 		AppChildDecorateFunc(cfg),
 	}
 }
@@ -86,6 +87,22 @@ func AppDefaultNavURLDecorateFunc(_ context.Context, p *plugins.Plugin) (*plugin
 	return p, nil
 }
 
+// TemplateDecorateFunc is a DecorateFunc that removes the placeholder for the version and last_update fields.
+func TemplateDecorateFunc(_ context.Context, p *plugins.Plugin) (*plugins.Plugin, error) {
+	// %VERSION% and %TODAY% are valid values, according to the plugin schema
+	// but it's meant to be replaced by the build system with the actual version and date.
+	// If not, it's the same than not having a version or a date.
+	if p.Info.Version == "%VERSION%" {
+		p.Info.Version = ""
+	}
+
+	if p.Info.Updated == "%TODAY%" {
+		p.Info.Updated = ""
+	}
+
+	return p, nil
+}
+
 func setDefaultNavURL(p *plugins.Plugin) {
 	// slugify pages
 	for _, include := range p.Includes {
diff --git a/pkg/plugins/manager/pipeline/bootstrap/steps_test.go b/pkg/plugins/manager/pipeline/bootstrap/steps_test.go
index 670a667a707..795d7f8a5a9 100644
--- a/pkg/plugins/manager/pipeline/bootstrap/steps_test.go
+++ b/pkg/plugins/manager/pipeline/bootstrap/steps_test.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package bootstrap
 
 import (
+	"context"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
@@ -66,6 +67,34 @@ func TestSetDefaultNavURL(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 }
 
+func TestTemplateDecorateFunc(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Run("Removes %VERSION%", func(t *testing.T) {
+		pluginWithoutVersion := &plugins.Plugin{
+			JSONData: plugins.JSONData{
+				Info: plugins.Info{
+					Version: "%VERSION%",
+				},
+			},
+		}
+		p, err := TemplateDecorateFunc(context.TODO(), pluginWithoutVersion)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		require.Equal(t, "", p.Info.Version)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("Removes %TODAY%", func(t *testing.T) {
+		pluginWithoutVersion := &plugins.Plugin{
+			JSONData: plugins.JSONData{
+				Info: plugins.Info{
+					Version: "%TODAY%",
+				},
+			},
+		}
+		p, err := TemplateDecorateFunc(context.TODO(), pluginWithoutVersion)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		require.Equal(t, "", p.Info.Updated)
+	})
+}
+
 func Test_configureAppChildPlugin(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Run("When setting paths based on core plugin on Windows", func(t *testing.T) {
 		child := &plugins.Plugin{
diff --git a/pkg/services/pluginsintegration/loader/loader_test.go b/pkg/services/pluginsintegration/loader/loader_test.go
index d062955e7fa..c4fda2f7b14 100644
--- a/pkg/services/pluginsintegration/loader/loader_test.go
+++ b/pkg/services/pluginsintegration/loader/loader_test.go
@@ -1335,8 +1335,8 @@ func TestLoader_Load_NestedPlugins(t *testing.T) {
 					},
 					Screenshots: []plugins.Screenshots{},
 					Description: "Grafana App Plugin Template",
-					Version:     "%VERSION%",
-					Updated:     "%TODAY%",
+					Version:     "",
+					Updated:     "",
 				},
 				Dependencies: plugins.Dependencies{
 					GrafanaVersion:    "7.0.0",
@@ -1415,8 +1415,8 @@ func TestLoader_Load_NestedPlugins(t *testing.T) {
 					},
 					Screenshots: []plugins.Screenshots{},
 					Description: "Grafana Panel Plugin Template",
-					Version:     "%VERSION%",
-					Updated:     "%TODAY%",
+					Version:     "",
+					Updated:     "",
 				},
 				Dependencies: plugins.Dependencies{
 					GrafanaDependency: ">=7.0.0",