diff --git a/build.rs b/build.rs
index 6ee3af5..d2afdce 100644
--- a/build.rs
+++ b/build.rs
@@ -7,7 +7,13 @@ fn main() -> Result<()> {
     *config.git_mut().semver_kind_mut() = SemverKind::Lightweight;
     // Add a `-dirty` flag to the SEMVER output
     *config.git_mut().semver_dirty_mut() = Some("-dirty");
-
     // Generate the instructions
-    vergen(config)
+    if let Err(e) = vergen(config) {
+        eprintln!("error occurred while generating instructions: {:?}", e);
+        let mut config = Config::default();
+        *config.git_mut().enabled_mut() = false;
+        vergen(config)
+    } else {
+        Ok(())
+    }
 }