diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 0e7a101b5a..69cb31f7a6 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 -include dracut-version.sh
 
-DRACUT_MAIN_VERSION := $(shell env GIT_CEILING_DIRECTORIES=$(CURDIR)/.. git describe --abbrev=0 --tags --always 2>/dev/null || :)
+DRACUT_MAIN_VERSION ?= $(shell env GIT_CEILING_DIRECTORIES=$(CURDIR)/.. git describe --abbrev=0 --tags --always 2>/dev/null || :)
 ifeq ($(DRACUT_MAIN_VERSION),)
 DRACUT_MAIN_VERSION = $(DRACUT_VERSION)
 endif
-DRACUT_FULL_VERSION := $(shell env GIT_CEILING_DIRECTORIES=$(CURDIR)/.. git describe --tags --always 2>/dev/null || :)
+DRACUT_FULL_VERSION ?= $(shell env GIT_CEILING_DIRECTORIES=$(CURDIR)/.. git describe --tags --always 2>/dev/null || :)
 ifeq ($(DRACUT_FULL_VERSION),)
 DRACUT_FULL_VERSION = $(DRACUT_VERSION)
 endif