diff --git a/mythtv/version.sh b/mythtv/version.sh
index d2c53af234a..a8939c45d18 100755
--- a/mythtv/version.sh
+++ b/mythtv/version.sh
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ GITREPOPATH="exported"
 
 cd ${GITTREEDIR}
 
+git status > /dev/null 2>&1
 SOURCE_VERSION=$(git describe --dirty || git describe || echo Unknown)
 
 case "${SOURCE_VERSION}" in