diff --git a/make/defs.mk b/make/defs.mk
index e46f34ce..d34f694f 100644
--- a/make/defs.mk
+++ b/make/defs.mk
@@ -32,6 +32,10 @@ FLAVOUR_PATH_SUFFIX   ?= /win32
   endif
 endif
 
+ifeq ($(PKG_FORMAT),debian)
+export INCLUDE_REV_IN_VERSIONS = true
+endif
+
 # ----- executables
 SED                    = sed
 CAT                    = /bin/cat