diff --git a/src/Makefile b/src/Makefile
index fd87766..9b70e93 100644
--- a/src/Makefile
+++ b/src/Makefile
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ clean:
 
 .PHONY: force
 version: force
+	test -f "$@" || touch "$@"
 	echo '"$(REVISIONID)"' | cmp -s - "$@" || echo '"$(REVISIONID)"' > "$@"
 
 version.o: version