diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 7f4f9258b..9b206e19c 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ INSTALL_DIR=kindlepdfviewer
 
 LUA_FILES=alt_getopt.lua commands.lua crereader.lua dialog.lua djvureader.lua extentions.lua filechooser.lua filehistory.lua fileinfo.lua filesearcher.lua font.lua graphics.lua helppage.lua image.lua inputbox.lua keys.lua pdfreader.lua reader.lua rendertext.lua screen.lua selectmenu.lua settings.lua unireader.lua widget.lua
 
-VERSION?=$(shell git rev-parse --short HEAD)
+VERSION?=$(shell git describe HEAD)
 customupdate: all
 	# ensure that build binary is for ARM
 	file kpdfview | grep ARM || exit 1