diff --git a/m4.include/mc-version.m4 b/m4.include/mc-version.m4
index 475ac72f3..b687c06fa 100644
--- a/m4.include/mc-version.m4
+++ b/m4.include/mc-version.m4
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ AC_DEFUN([MC_VERSION],[
     DISTR_VERSION=`echo $VERSION | sed 's/^\([[^\-]]*\).*/\1/'`
     DISTR_RELEASE=`echo $VERSION | sed 's/^[[^\-]]*\-\(.*\)/\1/' | sed 's/-/./g'`
 
-    if `echo $VERSION | grep -c '\-pre'`; then
+    if test `echo $VERSION | grep -c '\-pre'` -ne 0; then
         DISTR_RELEASE="0.$DISTR_RELEASE"
     else
         if test `echo $VERSION | grep -c '\-'` -eq 0; then