diff --git a/player/main.c b/player/main.c
index 91b17dc66d..f38ed58aec 100644
--- a/player/main.c
+++ b/player/main.c
@@ -150,8 +150,9 @@ void mp_update_logging(struct MPContext *mpctx, bool preinit)
 void mp_print_version(struct mp_log *log, int always)
 {
     int v = always ? MSGL_INFO : MSGL_V;
-    mp_msg(log, v, "%s %s\n built on %s\n",
-           mpv_version, mpv_copyright, mpv_builddate);
+    mp_msg(log, v, "%s %s\n", mpv_version, mpv_copyright);
+    if (strcmp(mpv_builddate, "UNKNOWN"))
+        mp_msg(log, v, " built on %s\n", mpv_builddate);
 #if HAVE_LIBPLACEBO
     mp_msg(log, v, "libplacebo version: %s\n", PL_VERSION);
 #endif