diff --git a/configure.sh b/configure.sh
index d8cf2c1b..792a40ad 100755
--- a/configure.sh
+++ b/configure.sh
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ AC_DEFINE THEME_CF "$THEME_CF"
 test "$DEBIAN_GLITCH" && AC_DEFINE 'DEBIAN_GLITCH' 1
 
 AC_PROG_CC
+AC_QUIET AC_PROG git && AC_DEFINE 'HAS_GIT' '1'
 AC_CHECK_NORETURN
 
 test "$TRY_SHARED" && AC_COMPILER_PIC && AC_CC_SHLIBS
diff --git a/tools/branch.c b/tools/branch.c
index 24af9233..91f34074 100644
--- a/tools/branch.c
+++ b/tools/branch.c
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ main(argc, argv)
 int argc;
 char **argv;
 {
+#if HAS_GIT
     FILE * pipe;
 
     char line[1024];
@@ -23,5 +24,6 @@ char **argv;
 	    printf("\"(%s)\"", line);
     }
     pclose(pipe);
+#endif
     return 0;
 }