diff --git a/build/Dockerfile b/build/Dockerfile
index c43e074c..2ce7981c 100644
--- a/build/Dockerfile
+++ b/build/Dockerfile
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ COPY / /src
 
 RUN mkdir -p /var/run/vars && \
     cd /src && \
-    git describe --abbrev=0 --tags > /var/run/vars/GIT_LAST_TAG && \
+    git describe --abbrev=0 --tags > /var/run/vars/GIT_LAST_TAG || echo "dev" > /var/run/vars/GIT_LAST_TAG && \
     CGO_ENABLED=0 go build \
         -ldflags "-X github.com/haproxytech/kubernetes-ingress/pkg/version.GitTag=$(cat /var/run/vars/GIT_LAST_TAG)" \
         -o fs/haproxy-ingress-controller .
diff --git a/build/Dockerfile.pebble b/build/Dockerfile.pebble
index 00a6cd3c..f0349462 100644
--- a/build/Dockerfile.pebble
+++ b/build/Dockerfile.pebble
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ RUN go install github.com/canonical/pebble/cmd/pebble@v1.2.0
 
 RUN mkdir -p /var/run/vars && \
     cd /src && \
-    git describe --abbrev=0 --tags > /var/run/vars/GIT_LAST_TAG && \
+    git describe --abbrev=0 --tags > /var/run/vars/GIT_LAST_TAG || echo "dev" > /var/run/vars/GIT_LAST_TAG && \
     CGO_ENABLED=0 go build \
         -ldflags "-X github.com/haproxytech/kubernetes-ingress/pkg/version.GitTag=$(cat /var/run/vars/GIT_LAST_TAG)" \
         -o fs/haproxy-ingress-controller .