diff --git a/cmake/git.cmake b/cmake/git.cmake
index 1dc73f26b69..c79ee9c0ea5 100644
--- a/cmake/git.cmake
+++ b/cmake/git.cmake
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 find_package(Git QUIET)
 if(NOT BUILD_VERSION AND GIT_FOUND)
   execute_process(
-    COMMAND ${GIT_EXECUTABLE} describe --abbrev=12
+    COMMAND ${GIT_EXECUTABLE} describe --abbrev=12 --always
     WORKING_DIRECTORY                ${ZEPHYR_BASE}
     OUTPUT_VARIABLE                  BUILD_VERSION
     OUTPUT_STRIP_TRAILING_WHITESPACE