diff --git a/make/defs.mk b/make/defs.mk
index dab80e37..56489232 100644
--- a/make/defs.mk
+++ b/make/defs.mk
@@ -641,13 +641,9 @@ define beautify_lib_path
 endef
 
 ifeq ($(INCLUDE_REV_IN_VERSIONS),true)
-  define version
-    $(shell $(CAT) $1/VERSION | $(SED) 's/-dev//')
-  endef
+  version = $(shell $(CAT) $1/VERSION | $(SED) 's/-dev//; s/[ 	]*//g')
 else
-  define version
-    $(shell $(CAT) $1/VERSION | $(SED) 's/-.*//')
-  endef
+  version = $(shell $(CAT) $1/VERSION | $(SED) 's/-.*//; s/[ 	]*//g')
 endif
 
 define install_links