diff --git a/cookbook/version_info.py b/cookbook/version_info.py
index b3617f8a..65c43581 100644
--- a/cookbook/version_info.py
+++ b/cookbook/version_info.py
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 TANDOOR_VERSION = ""
-TANDOOR_REF = "abf8f791360b2bc4a5c7d011877668679bcbb3f2"
-VERSION_INFO = [{'name': 'Tandoor ', 'version': "commit abf8f791360b2bc4a5c7d011877668679bcbb3f2\nMerge: 4723a7ec fd028047\nAuthor: vabene1111 \nDate:   Sun Dec 3 14:10:28 2023 +0100\n\n    Merge branch 'develop'\n    \n    # Conflicts:\n    #       docs/faq.md\n", 'website': 'https://github.com/TandoorRecipes/recipes', 'commit_link': 'https://github.com/TandoorRecipes/recipes/commit/abf8f791360b2bc4a5c7d011877668679bcbb3f2', 'ref': 'abf8f791360b2bc4a5c7d011877668679bcbb3f2', 'branch': 'HEAD', 'tag': ''}]
\ No newline at end of file
+TANDOOR_REF = ""
+VERSION_INFO = []
diff --git a/version.py b/version.py
index 037e84d2..aacd8c1a 100644
--- a/version.py
+++ b/version.py
@@ -71,4 +71,6 @@ except BaseException:
 
 with open('cookbook/version_info.py', 'w+', encoding='UTF-8') as f:
     print(f"writing version info {version_info}")
+    if not tandoor_tag:
+        tandoor_tag = tandoor_hash
     f.write(f'TANDOOR_VERSION = "{tandoor_tag}"\nTANDOOR_REF = "{tandoor_hash}"\nVERSION_INFO = {version_info}')