diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 2db0eb3..3cf8b29 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -2,7 +2,10 @@ project('compton', 'c', version: '4')
 
 cc = meson.get_compiler('c')
 
-version = ''
+# use project version by default
+version = 'v'+meson.project_version()
+
+# use git describe if that's available
 git = find_program('git', required: false)
 if git.found()
 	gitv = run_command('git', 'describe')
@@ -11,11 +14,6 @@ if git.found()
 	endif
 endif
 
-if version == ''
-	# use project version by default
-	version = 'v'+meson.project_version()
-endif
-
 add_global_arguments('-std=c11', language: 'c')
 add_global_arguments('-DCOMPTON_VERSION="'+version+'"', language: 'c')