diff --git a/bin/compile b/bin/compile
index acacaa5ac..977bc87f5 100755
--- a/bin/compile
+++ b/bin/compile
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ then
 fi
 
 FLAGS=(-tags cloudfoundry)
-if test -n "$GO_GIT_DESCRIBE_SYMBOL"
+if [ -z GO_GIT_DESCRIBE_SYMBOL ] && [ test -n "$GO_GIT_DESCRIBE_SYMBOL" ]
 then
     git_describe=$(git describe --tags --always)
     FLAGS=(${FLAGS[@]} -ldflags "-X $GO_GIT_DESCRIBE_SYMBOL $git_describe")