diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index bc6710d8..7b896b3b 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -37,14 +37,14 @@ endif
 endif
 endif
 
-# include information generated by 'git describe --dirty' if requested
+# include information generated by 'git describe --tags --dirty' if requested
 if USE_GIT_VERSION
 common.c: gitversion.h
 gitversion.h: .git/index
 	printf "// Do not edit!\n" > gitversion.h
-	printf "// This file is automatically generated by 'git describe --dirty', if available.\n" >> gitversion.h
+	printf "// This file is automatically generated by 'git describe --tags --dirty', if available.\n" >> gitversion.h
 	printf "  char git_version_string[] = \"" >> gitversion.h
-	git describe --dirty | tr -d '[[:space:]]' >> gitversion.h
+	git describe --tags --dirty | tr -d '[[:space:]]' >> gitversion.h
 	printf "\";\n" >> gitversion.h
 CLEANFILES += gitversion.h
 endif