diff --git a/update-version-h.sh b/update-version-h.sh
index 80c06a4f6..2679b466b 100755
--- a/update-version-h.sh
+++ b/update-version-h.sh
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ else
     rm -f "$vcs_revision_file"
 fi
 
-vcs_revision=${vcs_revision:0:10}
+vcs_revision=`echo ${vcs_revision} | head -c10`
 
 cat > libtransmission/version.h.new << EOF
 #pragma once