--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -26,7 +26,11 @@ VIPS_MAJOR_VERSION=vips_major_version()
 VIPS_MINOR_VERSION=vips_minor_version()
 VIPS_MICRO_VERSION=vips_micro_version()
 VIPS_VERSION=vips_version()
-VIPS_VERSION_STRING="$VIPS_VERSION-$(date -u -r $srcdir/ChangeLog)"
+if test "x$SOURCE_DATE_EPOCH" = "x"; then
+  VIPS_VERSION_STRING=$VIPS_VERSION-`date -u -r ChangeLog`
+else
+  VIPS_VERSION_STRING=$VIPS_VERSION-`LC_ALL=C date --utc --date="@$SOURCE_DATE_EPOCH"`
+fi
 
 # packages add to these as we find them
 VIPS_CFLAGS=""