diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 1bff59b..266039c 100755
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ include config/make/rules.mk
 OS_NAME = kosmos
 
 # version numbering deployed by ci deploy script - no necessary for local build
-ifdef $(SW_KERNEL)
+ifdef SW_KERNEL
 VERSION := -$(SW_KERNEL).$(SW_MAJOR).$(SW_MINOR)-
 else
 VERSION :=