diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index 9da258eb..7e8ee456 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 if INCLUDE_GIT_VERSION
-src/gitversion.c: .git/HEAD .git/index
+
+FORCE:
+
+src/gitversion.c: .git/HEAD .git/index FORCE
 	rm -f src/gitversion.c src/gitversion.o
 	echo "#ifndef PROF_GIT_BRANCH" >> $@
 	echo "#define PROF_GIT_BRANCH \"$(shell git rev-parse --symbolic-full-name --abbrev-ref HEAD)\"" >> $@