diff --git a/build.sh b/build.sh
index cd22f4a..49e1d28 100755
--- a/build.sh
+++ b/build.sh
@@ -37,7 +37,9 @@
 LIBS=`echo "$LIBS" | sed 's/^-L/-L-L/; s/ -L/ -L-L/g; s/^-l/-L-l/; s/ -l/ -L-l/g'`
 
 echo Generating version file...
-GITVER=$(git describe) || GITVER=unknown
+if  [ "$GITVER" = "" ]; then
+  GITVER=$(git describe) || GITVER=unknown
+fi
 echo "module dub.version_;" > source/dub/version_.d
 echo "enum dubVersion = \"$GITVER\";" >> source/dub/version_.d