diff --git a/sent.c b/sent.c
index 9534fca..e2b7d71 100644
--- a/sent.c
+++ b/sent.c
@@ -23,6 +23,10 @@
 #include "util.h"
 #include "drw.h"
 
+#ifndef VERSION
+#define VERSION "1"
+#endif
+
 char *argv0;
 
 /* macros */
@@ -689,7 +693,7 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
 	ARGBEGIN {
 	case 'v':
-		fprintf(stderr, "sent-"VERSION"\n");
+		fprintf(stderr, "sent-%s\n", VERSION);
 		return 0;
 	default:
 		usage();