diff --git a/openhantek/CMakeLists.txt b/openhantek/CMakeLists.txt
index 255549a..f3f9402 100644
--- a/openhantek/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/openhantek/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -17,7 +17,9 @@ INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES(".")
 
 find_package(Git)
 
-if (GIT_EXECUTABLE AND EXISTS "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/.git")
+if(DEFINED ENV{VERSION})
+    set(VERSION $ENV{VERSION})
+elseif (GIT_EXECUTABLE AND EXISTS "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/.git")
     execute_process(
         # delete the unstable tag ...
         # COMMAND ${GIT_EXECUTABLE} tag -d unstable