diff --git a/opm/simulators/utils/moduleVersion.cpp b/opm/simulators/utils/moduleVersion.cpp
index 4bbf22c3a..b6420f802 100644
--- a/opm/simulators/utils/moduleVersion.cpp
+++ b/opm/simulators/utils/moduleVersion.cpp
@@ -51,7 +51,11 @@ namespace Opm
     /// the binary was compiled.
     std::string compileTimestamp()
     {
+#ifdef BUILD_TIMESTAMP
         return BUILD_TIMESTAMP;
+#else
+        return "";
+#endif
     }
 
 } // namespace Opm