diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 97f63eb..0e2636b 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -245,9 +245,9 @@ test: zdtm
 # Generating tar requires tag matched CRIU_VERSION.
 # If not found then simply use GIT's describe with
 # "v" prefix stripped.
-head-name := $(shell git tag -l v$(CRIU_VERSION))
+head-name := $(shell if [ -d ".git" ]; then git tag -l v$(CRIU_VERSION); fi)
 ifeq ($(head-name),)
-        head-name := $(shell git describe 2>/dev/null)
+        head-name := $(shell if [ -d ".git" ]; then git describe 2>/dev/null; fi)
 endif
 # If no git tag could describe current commit,
 # use pre-defined CRIU_VERSION with GITID (if any).