diff --git a/tribits/doc/utils/gen_doc_utils.sh b/tribits/doc/utils/gen_doc_utils.sh
index f1245752c..73aaba4bf 100644
--- a/tribits/doc/utils/gen_doc_utils.sh
+++ b/tribits/doc/utils/gen_doc_utils.sh
@@ -51,11 +51,8 @@ function generate_git_version_file {
     echo
     echo "Generating git version"
     echo
-    git describe --match="$_TRIBITS_TAG_PREFIX*" > TribitsGitVersion.txt
-    gitExitCode=$?
-    if [[ "${gitExitCode}" != "0" ]] ; then
+    git describe --junk --match="$_TRIBITS_TAG_PREFIX*" > TribitsGitVersion.txt || \
       echo "$_TRIBITS_TAG_PREFIX.{Unknown version}" > TribitsGitVersion.txt
-    fi
   else
     echo "$_TRIBITS_TAG_PREFIX.{Unknown version}" > TribitsGitVersion.txt
   fi