qemu -version output is incorrect with configure --with-pkgversion Since qemu v2.7.0, up to the current master (1883ff34b540daacae948f493b0ba525edf5f642) the pkgversion feature appears to have a bug: $ ./configure --target-list=x86_64-softmmu --with-pkgversion=foo Results in this output: $ x86_64-softmmu/qemu-system-x86_64 -version QEMU emulator version 2.8.90(foo) Copyright (c) 2003-2017 Fabrice Bellard and the QEMU Project developers This appears to have been introduced in: 67a1de0d19 Makefile: Derive "PKGVERSION" from "git describe" by default The previous commit (077de81a4c) produces this output: $ x86_64-softmmu/qemu-system-x86_64 -version QEMU emulator version 2.6.50 (foo), Copyright (c) 2003-2008 Fabrice Bellard