diff --git a/openEMS.pro b/openEMS.pro
index 97b0632..9405b21 100644
--- a/openEMS.pro
+++ b/openEMS.pro
@@ -240,6 +240,7 @@ MPI_SUPPORT {
 
 # add git revision
 GITREV = $$system(git describe --tags)
+isEmpty($$GITREV):GITREV=$$VERSION
 DEFINES += GIT_VERSION=\\\"$$GITREV\\\"