diff --git a/doc/Makefile b/doc/Makefile
index 89b4be92..7b0c2330 100644
--- a/doc/Makefile
+++ b/doc/Makefile
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ endif
 ifdef VERSION
 VERSIONIDS=vstr
 vstr.but: FORCE
-	echo \\versionid $(VERSION) > vstr.but
+	printf '\\versionid $(VERSION)\n' > vstr.but
 FORCE:;
 else
 VERSIONIDS=vids