diff --git a/wscript b/wscript
index 05ee4efd..e567a0a6 100644
--- a/wscript
+++ b/wscript
@@ -35,9 +35,10 @@ APPNAME = 'midori'
 VERSION = str (major) + '.' + str (minor) + '.' + str (micro)
 
 try:
-    git = Utils.cmd_output (['git', 'describe'], silent=True)
-    if git:
-        VERSION = git.strip ()
+    if os.path.isdir ('.git'):
+        git = Utils.cmd_output (['git', 'describe'], silent=True)
+        if git:
+            VERSION = git.strip ()
 except:
     pass