diff --git a/base.mk b/base.mk
index f67f682..a4d94d7 100644
--- a/base.mk
+++ b/base.mk
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@ export
 NAME ?= $(shell basename $(CURDIR))
 VERSION ?= $(shell git describe --tags --dirty 2>/dev/null)
 
-ifeq ($(wildcard $VERSION),)
-	VERSION:=unknown
+ifeq ($(VERSION),)
+	VERSION:="unknown"
 endif
 
 # Get the location of this makefile.