diff --git a/desktop_version/.gitignore b/desktop_version/.gitignore
index 92608479..241f712d 100644
--- a/desktop_version/.gitignore
+++ b/desktop_version/.gitignore
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ VVVVVV.exe
 VVVVVV
 *.a
 *.gch
+src/Version.h.out
 
 # Game data
 data.zip
diff --git a/desktop_version/CMakeLists.txt b/desktop_version/CMakeLists.txt
index fb6afe77..b603f638 100644
--- a/desktop_version/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/desktop_version/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -28,15 +28,20 @@ ELSE()
 			ERROR_QUIET OUTPUT_STRIP_TRAILING_WHITESPACE
 		)
 
-		ADD_DEFINITIONS(-DINTERIM_COMMIT="${INTERIM_COMMIT}")
-
 		EXECUTE_PROCESS(
 			COMMAND "${GIT_EXECUTABLE}" log -1 --format=%cs
 			OUTPUT_VARIABLE COMMIT_DATE
 			ERROR_QUIET OUTPUT_STRIP_TRAILING_WHITESPACE
 		)
 
-		ADD_DEFINITIONS(-DCOMMIT_DATE="${COMMIT_DATE}")
+		MESSAGE(STATUS "This is interim commit ${INTERIM_COMMIT} (committed ${COMMIT_DATE})")
+
+		# Take template file and replace the macros with what we have
+		# Unfortunately the output is taken relative to binary path so we have to qualify it
+		CONFIGURE_FILE(src/Version.h.in ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/src/Version.h.out)
+
+		# This lets Version.h know that Version.h.out exists
+		ADD_DEFINITIONS(-DVERSION_H_OUT_EXISTS)
 	ENDIF()
 ENDIF()
 
diff --git a/desktop_version/src/Render.cpp b/desktop_version/src/Render.cpp
index cf79cfb8..2cca6838 100644
--- a/desktop_version/src/Render.cpp
+++ b/desktop_version/src/Render.cpp
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 #include "Music.h"
 #include "Script.h"
 #include "UtilityClass.h"
+#include "Version.h"
 
 int tr;
 int tg;
diff --git a/desktop_version/src/Version.h b/desktop_version/src/Version.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e1bf0cbc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/desktop_version/src/Version.h
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+#ifndef VERSION_H
+#define VERSION_H
+
+#ifdef VERSION_H_OUT_EXISTS
+#include "Version.h.out"
+#endif
+
+#endif /* VERSION_H */
diff --git a/desktop_version/src/Version.h.in b/desktop_version/src/Version.h.in
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0837b9cb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/desktop_version/src/Version.h.in
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+#ifndef VERSION_H_OUT
+#define VERSION_H_OUT
+
+#define INTERIM_COMMIT "@INTERIM_COMMIT@"
+#define COMMIT_DATE "@COMMIT_DATE@"
+
+#endif /* VERSION_H_OUT */