diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 75b558db2c5e..93f098720474 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -652,12 +652,13 @@ else
 endif
 ifndef SKIP_VERSION
 BUILD_DATE := $(shell date +"%Y-%m-%d-%H:%M:%S")
+else
+BUILD_DATE := NA
+endif
+
 $(shell echo '#define QMK_VERSION "$(GIT_VERSION)"' > $(ROOT_DIR)/quantum/version.h)
 $(shell echo '#define QMK_BUILDDATE "$(BUILD_DATE)"' >> $(ROOT_DIR)/quantum/version.h)
 $(shell echo '#define CHIBIOS_VERSION "$(CHIBIOS_VERSION)"' >> $(ROOT_DIR)/quantum/version.h)
 $(shell echo '#define CHIBIOS_CONTRIB_VERSION "$(CHIBIOS_CONTRIB_VERSION)"' >> $(ROOT_DIR)/quantum/version.h)
-else
-BUILD_DATE := NA
-endif
 
 include $(ROOT_DIR)/testlist.mk