diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 90ebc0a..904ffee 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ GIT_REF := $(shell git log -1 --format=%H)
 GIT_AUTHOR := $(shell git log -1 --format=%an)
 GIT_KEY := $(shell git log -1 --format=%GP)
 GIT_TIMESTAMP := $(shell git log -1 --format=%cd --date=iso)
+VERSION := development
 export
 
 ## Use env vars from latest release when reproducing
@@ -109,7 +110,7 @@ reproduce: clean | out
 out:
 	mkdir -p $@
 
-out/release.env: $(shell git ls-files)
+out/release.env: $(shell git ls-files) | out
 	echo 'VERSION=$(VERSION)'              > out/release.env
 	echo 'GIT_REF=$(GIT_REF)'             >> out/release.env
 	echo 'GIT_AUTHOR=$(GIT_AUTHOR)'       >> out/release.env