$(ALL_CFLAGS) -c $(filter %.c,$^)
 
 git$X: git.o $(BUILTIN_OBJS) $(GITLIBS)
-       $(QUIET_LINK)$(CC) -DGIT_VERSION='"$(GIT_VERSION)"' \
-               $(ALL_CFLAGS) -o $@ $(filter %.c,$^) git.o \
+       $(QUIET_LINK)$(CC) $(ALL_CFLAGS) -o $@ git.o \
                $(BUILTIN_OBJS) $(ALL_LDFLAGS) $(LIBS)
 
 help.o: common-cmds.h
        rm -f $<+
 
 # These can record GIT_VERSION
-git$X git.spec \
+git.o git.spec \
        $(patsubst %.sh,%,$(SCRIPT_SH)) \
        $(patsubst %.perl,%,$(SCRIPT_PERL)) \
        : GIT-VERSION-FILE