diff --git a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/mcelog/default.nix b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/mcelog/default.nix
index c56c7f8bd19..70f3f3f27b5 100644
--- a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/mcelog/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/mcelog/default.nix
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation {
       substituteInPlace $i --replace /etc $out/etc
     done
     touch mcelog.conf.5 # avoid regeneration requiring Python
+
+    substituteInPlace Makefile --replace '"unknown"' '"${version}"'
   '';
 
   installFlags = "DESTDIR=$(out) prefix= DOCDIR=/share/doc";