diff --git a/tmk_core/common.mk b/tmk_core/common.mk
index 3b53c0a0..e165a78b 100644
--- a/tmk_core/common.mk
+++ b/tmk_core/common.mk
@@ -81,7 +81,8 @@ ifdef KEYMAP_SECTION_ENABLE
 endif
 
 # Version string
-OPT_DEFS += -DVERSION=$(shell (git describe --always --dirty || echo 'unknown') 2> /dev/null)
+VERSION := $(shell (git describe --always --dirty || echo 'unknown') 2> /dev/null)
+OPT_DEFS += -DVERSION=$(VERSION)
 
 
 # Search Path