diff --git a/config.mk b/config.mk
index c9a25f3..9f1ec7f 100644
--- a/config.mk
+++ b/config.mk
@@ -24,4 +24,4 @@ LIBS = -L${X11LIB} -lX11 -lXtst -lXft ${XINERAMALIBS} \
 # use system flags
 SVKBD_CFLAGS = ${CFLAGS} ${INCS}
 SVKBD_LDFLAGS = ${LDFLAGS} ${LIBS}
-SVKBD_CPPFLAGS = ${CPPFLAGS} -D_DEFAULT_SOURCE -DVERSION=\"VERSION\" ${XINERAMAFLAGS} -DLAYOUT=\"layout.${LAYOUT}.h\"
+SVKBD_CPPFLAGS = ${CPPFLAGS} -D_DEFAULT_SOURCE -DVERSION=\"${VERSION}\" ${XINERAMAFLAGS} -DLAYOUT=\"layout.${LAYOUT}.h\"