diff --git a/kernel/banner.c b/kernel/banner.c
index 5274c3e0d6f..dc2506fb9b1 100644
--- a/kernel/banner.c
+++ b/kernel/banner.c
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 #endif /* defined(CONFIG_BOOT_DELAY) && (CONFIG_BOOT_DELAY > 0) */
 
 #ifndef BANNER_VERSION
-#ifdef BUILD_VERSION
+#if defined(BUILD_VERSION) && !IS_EMPTY(BUILD_VERSION)
 #define BANNER_VERSION STRINGIFY(BUILD_VERSION)
 #else
 #define BANNER_VERSION KERNEL_VERSION_STRING