diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index e54b69448..4f06e7f55 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ pyenv:
 .PHONY: buildhash
 buildhash:
 	oldhash=$$(test -f meta/buildhash && cat meta/buildhash || true); \
-	newhash=$$(git rev-parse --short=8 HEAD); \
+	newhash=$$(git rev-parse --short=8 HEAD || echo dev); \
 	if [ "$$oldhash" != "$$newhash" ]; then \
 		echo $$newhash > meta/buildhash; \
 	fi