diff --git a/pkgs/build-support/release/debian-build.nix b/pkgs/build-support/release/debian-build.nix
index 7dcc9b9552a..f4bc3e73056 100644
--- a/pkgs/build-support/release/debian-build.nix
+++ b/pkgs/build-support/release/debian-build.nix
@@ -54,11 +54,15 @@ vmTools.runInLinuxImage (stdenv.mkDerivation (
       eval "$preInstall"
       export LOGNAME=root
 
+      # otherwise build hangs when it wants to display
+      # the log file
+      export PAGER=cat
       ${checkinstall}/sbin/checkinstall --nodoc -y -D \
         --fstrans=${if fsTranslation then "yes" else "no"} \
         --requires="${concatStringsSep "," debRequires}" \
         --provides="${concatStringsSep "," debProvides}" \
-        ${optionalString (src ? version) "--pkgversion=$(echo ${src.version} | tr _ -)"} \
+        ${if (src ? version) then "--pkgversion=$(echo ${src.version} | tr _ -)"
+                             else "--pkgversion=0.0.0"} \
         ''${debMaintainer:+--maintainer="'$debMaintainer'"} \
         ''${debName:+--pkgname="'$debName'"} \
         $checkInstallFlags \