diff --git a/build/Makefile b/build/Makefile
index c64917604..4caaf26ff 100644
--- a/build/Makefile
+++ b/build/Makefile
@@ -102,7 +102,9 @@ build-basecoin: git-branch
 ###
 
 # set app_version
-version-%: $(GOPATH)/bin/%
+version-%:
+	@echo "Checking if binary exists"
+	test -n $(GOPATH)/bin/$*
 	@echo "BUILD_NUMBER is $(BUILD_NUMBER)"
 	test -n "$(BUILD_NUMBER)"
 	$(eval $*_version=$(shell $< version | head -1 | cut -d- -f1 | sed 's/^\(ethermint:\s*\|\)\(v\|\)//' | tr -d '\t ' ))