diff --git a/cmd/helm/version.go b/cmd/helm/version.go
index 922e744b2..fcbe743f5 100644
--- a/cmd/helm/version.go
+++ b/cmd/helm/version.go
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ func getK8sVersion() (*apiVersion.Info, error) {
 }
 
 func formatVersion(v *pb.Version, short bool) string {
-	if short {
+	if short && v.GitCommit != "" {
 		return fmt.Sprintf("%s+g%s", v.SemVer, v.GitCommit[:7])
 	}
 	return fmt.Sprintf("%#v", v)