diff --git a/version-get.sh b/version-get.sh
index 91c1b956..3a908fc3 100755
--- a/version-get.sh
+++ b/version-get.sh
@@ -1,10 +1,13 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 
 # echo current git version (doesn't make version_auto.h)
+VERSION_EMPTY=$1
+#VERSION_FILE=--
+VERSION_NAME=$2
+if [ -z "$VERSION_EMPTY" ]; then VERSION_EMPTY=false; fi
+#if [ -z "$VERSION_FILE" ]; then VERSION_FILE=version_auto.h; fi
+if [ -z "$VERSION_NAME" ]; then VERSION_NAME=VGMSTREAM_VERSION; fi
 VERSION_DEFAULT=unknown
-VERSION_NAME=VGMSTREAM_VERSION
-#VERSION_FILE=version_auto.h
-
 
 # try get version from Git (dynamic), including lightweight tags
 if ! command -v git > /dev/null ; then
@@ -19,18 +22,24 @@ if  [[ $VERSION != fatal* ]] && [ ! -z "$VERSION" ] ; then
 else
     # try to get version from version.h (static)
     #echo "Git version not found, can't autogenerate version (using default)"
-    LINE="$VERSION_DEFAULT"
 
-    while IFS= read -r -u3 item; do
-        COMP="#define $VERSION_NAME*"
-        if [[ $item == $COMP ]] ; then
-            STR_REM1="*$VERSION_NAME \""
-            STR_REM2="\"*"
-            LINE=$item
-            LINE=${LINE/$STR_REM1/}
-            LINE=${LINE/$STR_REM2/}
-        fi
-    done 3< "version.h"
+    # option to output empty line instead of default version, so plugins can detect git-less builds
+    if [ "$VERSION_EMPTY" == "true" ]; then 
+        LINE="/* ignored */"
+    else
+        LINE="$VERSION_DEFAULT"
+        while IFS= read -r -u3 item; do
+            COMP="#define $VERSION_NAME*"
+            if [[ $item == $COMP ]] ; then
+                # clean "#define ..." leaving rXXXX only
+                STR_REMOVE1="*$VERSION_NAME \""
+                STR_REMOVE2="\"*"
+                LINE=$item
+                LINE=${LINE/$STR_REMOVE1/}
+                LINE=${LINE/$STR_REMOVE2/}
+            fi
+        done 3< "version.h"
+    fi
 fi
 
 
diff --git a/version-make.bat b/version-make.bat
index fe563b74..4816bb0f 100644
--- a/version-make.bat
+++ b/version-make.bat
@@ -2,15 +2,13 @@
 setlocal enableextensions enabledelayedexpansion
 
 REM creates or updates version_auto.h
-REM params: $1=filename (usually version_auto.h), $2=VARNAME (usually VGMSTREAM_VERSION)
-
-
-REM defaults
+set VERSION_EMPTY=%1
+set VERSION_FILE=%2
+set VERSION_NAME=%3
+if "%~1" == "" set VERSION_EMPTY=false
+if "%~2" == "" set VERSION_FILE=version_auto.h
+if "%~3" == "" set VERSION_NAME=VGMSTREAM_VERSION
 set VERSION_DEFAULT=unknown
-set VERSION_FILE=%1
-set VERSION_NAME=%2
-if "%~1" == "" set VERSION_FILE=version_auto.h
-if "%~2" == "" set VERSION_NAME=VGMSTREAM_VERSION
 
 if not "%VERSION%"=="" set VERSION=!VERSION:^:=_!
 cd /d "%~dp0"
@@ -29,12 +27,17 @@ goto :got_version
 REM try to get version from version.h (static)
 :get_version_h
 echo Git version not found, can't autogenerate version (using default)
-set LINE=#define %VERSION_NAME% "%VERSION_DEFAULT%" /* autogenerated */
-if exist "version.h" (
-    for /F "tokens=*" %%v in (version.h) do (
-        set TOKEN=%%v
-        REM set COMP=#define %VERSION_NAME% #todo
-        if /i "!TOKEN:~0,25!"=="#define VGMSTREAM_VERSION" set LINE=%%v
+REM option to output empty line instead of default version, so plugins can detect git-less builds
+if "%VERSION_EMPTY%"=="true" (
+    set LINE=/* ignored */
+) else (
+    set LINE=#define %VERSION_NAME% "%VERSION_DEFAULT%" /* autogenerated */
+    if exist "version.h" (
+        for /F "tokens=*" %%v in (version.h) do (
+            set TOKEN=%%v
+            REM set COMP=#define %VERSION_NAME% #todo
+            if /i "!TOKEN:~0,25!"=="#define VGMSTREAM_VERSION" set LINE=%%v /* default */
+        )
     )
 )
 goto :got_version
diff --git a/version-make.sh b/version-make.sh
index 20eebfc9..b848f421 100755
--- a/version-make.sh
+++ b/version-make.sh
@@ -1,10 +1,13 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 
 # make current git version (overwrites version_auto.h)
+VERSION_EMPTY=$1
+VERSION_FILE=$2
+VERSION_NAME=$3
+if [ -z "$VERSION_EMPTY" ]; then VERSION_EMPTY=false; fi
+if [ -z "$VERSION_FILE" ]; then VERSION_FILE=version_auto.h; fi
+if [ -z "$VERSION_NAME" ]; then VERSION_NAME=VGMSTREAM_VERSION; fi
 VERSION_DEFAULT=unknown
-VERSION_NAME=VGMSTREAM_VERSION
-VERSION_FILE=version_auto.h
-
 
 # try get version from Git (dynamic), including lightweight tags
 if ! command -v git > /dev/null ; then
@@ -19,14 +22,19 @@ if  [[ $VERSION != fatal* ]] && [ ! -z "$VERSION" ] ; then
 else
     # try to get version from version.h (static)
     echo "Git version not found, can't autogenerate version (using default)"
-    LINE="#define $VERSION_NAME \"$VERSION_DEFAULT\" /* autogenerated */"
 
-    while IFS= read -r -u3 item; do
-        COMP="#define $VERSION_NAME*"
-        if [[ $item == $COMP ]] ; then
-            LINE=$item
-        fi
-    done 3< "version.h"
+    # option to output empty line instead of default version, so plugins can detect git-less builds
+    if [ "$VERSION_EMPTY" == "true" ]; then 
+        LINE="/* ignored */"
+    else
+        LINE="#define $VERSION_NAME \"$VERSION_DEFAULT\" /* autogenerated */"
+        while IFS= read -r -u3 item; do
+            COMP="#define $VERSION_NAME*"
+            if [[ $item == $COMP ]] ; then
+                LINE="$item /* default */"
+            fi
+        done 3< "version.h"
+    fi
 fi