diff --git a/abuild.in b/abuild.in
index 5654d8f..c79596b 100644
--- a/abuild.in
+++ b/abuild.in
@@ -105,6 +105,10 @@ want_check() {
 }
 
 set_source_date() {
+	# dont error out if APKBUILD is not in git
+	if ! $git rev-parse --show-toplevel >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+		git=true
+	fi
 	# set time stamp for reproducible builds
 	if [ -z "$ABUILD_LAST_COMMIT" ]; then
 		export ABUILD_LAST_COMMIT="$(git_last_commit)$(git_dirty)"