diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 68bc2ef..e2918d0 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -32,9 +32,10 @@ SUPPORTED_PLATFORMS := linux-$(GOARCH) darwin-$(GOARCH) windows-$(GOARCH).exe
 BUILD_PACKAGE = $(REPOPATH)/cmd/skaffold
 
 VERSION_PACKAGE = $(REPOPATH)/pkg/skaffold/version
-COMMIT = $(shell git rev-parse HEAD)
+COMMIT ?= $(shell git rev-parse HEAD)
 BASE_URL ?= https://skaffold.dev
 VERSION ?= $(shell git describe --always --tags --dirty)
+TREE_STATE ?= $(if $(shell git status --porcelain),dirty,clean)
 
 GO_GCFLAGS := "all=-trimpath=${PWD}"
 GO_ASMFLAGS := "all=-trimpath=${PWD}"
@@ -44,7 +45,7 @@ GO_LDFLAGS += -extldflags \"${LDFLAGS}\"
 GO_LDFLAGS += -X $(VERSION_PACKAGE).version=$(VERSION)
 GO_LDFLAGS += -X $(VERSION_PACKAGE).buildDate=$(shell date +'%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ')
 GO_LDFLAGS += -X $(VERSION_PACKAGE).gitCommit=$(COMMIT)
-GO_LDFLAGS += -X $(VERSION_PACKAGE).gitTreeState=$(if $(shell git status --porcelain),dirty,clean)
+GO_LDFLAGS += -X $(VERSION_PACKAGE).gitTreeState=$(TREE_STATE)
 GO_LDFLAGS +="
 
 GO_FILES := $(shell find . -type f -name '*.go' -not -path "./vendor/*")