diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 00270c96b3..55d85f6c53 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -443,7 +443,7 @@ qemu-version.h: FORCE
 		else \
 			if test -d .git; then \
 				pkgvers=$$(git rev-parse --short HEAD 2>/dev/null | tr -d '\n');\
-				if ! git diff-index --quiet HEAD &>/dev/null; then \
+				if ! git diff --quiet HEAD >/dev/null 2>&1; then \
 					pkgvers="$${pkgvers}-dirty"; \
 				fi; \
 			fi; \