diff --git a/.packit.yaml b/.packit.yaml
index 7e20d7d..d1ccb15 100644
--- a/.packit.yaml
+++ b/.packit.yaml
@@ -15,7 +15,8 @@ srpm_build_deps:
   - golang
 
 actions:
-  get-current-version: bash -c "git describe --tags --abbrev=0 | sed 's|v||' && echo 1"
+  # v1 just the default prior to having tags
+  get-current-version: bash -c "( git describe --tags --abbrev=0 2>/dev/null || echo v1 ) | sed 's|v||'"
   post-upstream-clone: bash -c "go mod vendor || ./tools/rpm_spec_add_provides_bundle.sh"
   create-archive: bash -c "make release_artifacts"