--- ./scripts/setlocalversion.orig
+++ ./scripts/setlocalversion
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
 	fi
 
 	# Check for git and a git repo.
-	if head=`git rev-parse --verify --short HEAD 2>/dev/null`; then
+	if [ -d "$srctree"/.git ] && head=`git rev-parse --verify --short HEAD 2>/dev/null`; then
 
 		# If we are at a tagged commit (like "v2.6.30-rc6"), we ignore
 		# it, because this version is defined in the top level Makefile.