diff --git a/make/projects.mk b/make/projects.mk
index 9e710c90..80670ead 100644
--- a/make/projects.mk
+++ b/make/projects.mk
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 include $(JWBDIR)/make/platform.mk
 
 # -- What do I know about myself?
-VERSION_FILE                := $(firstword $(wildcard VERSION) $(TOPDIR)/VERSION)
+VERSION_FILE                ?= $(firstword $(wildcard VERSION) $(TOPDIR)/VERSION)
 ifndef DEVELOPMENT
   ifeq ($(wildcard $(VERSION_FILE)),)
     DEVELOPMENT             := true