diff --git a/scripts/setlocalversion b/scripts/setlocalversion
index e90a91c..057b6b3 100755
--- a/scripts/setlocalversion
+++ b/scripts/setlocalversion
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
 	fi
 
 	# Check for git and a git repo.
-	if head=`git rev-parse --verify --short HEAD 2>/dev/null`; then
+	if test -d .git && head=`git rev-parse --verify --short HEAD 2>/dev/null`; then
 
 		# If we are at a tagged commit (like "v2.6.30-rc6"), we ignore
 		# it, because this version is defined in the top level Makefile.
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@
 	fi
 
 	# Check for mercurial and a mercurial repo.
-	if hgid=`hg id 2>/dev/null`; then
+	if test -d .hg && hgid=`hg id 2>/dev/null`; then
 		tag=`printf '%s' "$hgid" | cut -s -d' ' -f2`
 
 		# Do we have an untagged version?