diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index ee85e9a62..586667a39 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ PREFIX ?= /usr/local
 SHAREPREFIX ?= ${PREFIX}/share
 MANPREFIX ?= ${PREFIX}/man
 
-VERSION = $(shell git describe 2>/dev/null || echo "0.2")
+VERSION = $(shell git describe --always 2>/dev/null || echo "0.2")
 
 CONFIG_LUA ?= 1
 CONFIG_ACL ?= 0