diff --git a/crypto/cversion.c b/crypto/cversion.c
index 881957e89..d2c6e7025 100644
--- a/crypto/cversion.c
+++ b/crypto/cversion.c
@@ -69,7 +69,11 @@ const char *SSLeay_version(int t)
 	if (t == SSLEAY_BUILT_ON)
 		{
 #ifdef DATE
+# ifdef OPENSSL_USE_BUILD_DATE
 		return(DATE);
+# else
+		return("built on: reproducible build, date unspecified");
+# endif
 #else
 		return("built on: date not available");
 #endif