diff --git a/src/lib9/Makefile b/src/lib9/Makefile
index d222e2f531..28c97c9b45 100644
--- a/src/lib9/Makefile
+++ b/src/lib9/Makefile
@@ -116,5 +116,6 @@ GOROOT_FINAL?=$(GOROOT)
 	$(HOST_CC) -c $(HOST_CFLAGS) $<
 
 goos.$O: goos.c
-	$(HOST_CC) -c $(HOST_CFLAGS) -DGOOS='"$(GOOS)"' -DGOARCH='"$(GOARCH)"' -DGOROOT='"$(GOROOT_FINAL)"' -DGOVERSION='"'"$$(../version.bash)"'"' $<
+	GOVERSION=`../version.bash` && \
+		$(HOST_CC) -c $(HOST_CFLAGS) -DGOOS='"$(GOOS)"' -DGOARCH='"$(GOARCH)"' -DGOROOT='"$(GOROOT_FINAL)"' -DGOVERSION='"'"$$GOVERSION"'"' $<