diff --git a/build/meson.build b/build/meson.build
index c0cdd8122..85cc9f92c 100644
--- a/build/meson.build
+++ b/build/meson.build
@@ -2,4 +2,5 @@ version_sh = find_program('./version.sh')
 version_inc = include_directories('.')
 version_h = custom_target('git_version.h',
                           command : [version_sh, meson.source_root()],
+                          build_always : true,  # has internal check whether target file will be refreshed
                           output : ['git_version.h', 'git_version.xml'])