diff --git a/exp/MOM_compile.csh b/exp/MOM_compile.csh
index e4cd3e14d..40f6b3adf 100755
--- a/exp/MOM_compile.csh
+++ b/exp/MOM_compile.csh
@@ -151,6 +151,7 @@ if ( $cosima_version ) then
     echo "Including COSIMA version in build"
     # Build version. This prevents builds outside a git repo, so only enabled for COSIMA builds
     source ./version_compile.csh
+    set cppDefs = "$cppDefs -DCOSIMA_VERSION"
 endif
 
 # Build FMS.
diff --git a/src/mom5/ocean_core/ocean_model.F90 b/src/mom5/ocean_core/ocean_model.F90
index 387515687..9942bb78e 100644
--- a/src/mom5/ocean_core/ocean_model.F90
+++ b/src/mom5/ocean_core/ocean_model.F90
@@ -334,7 +334,9 @@ module ocean_model_mod
 use ocean_drifters_mod,           only: ocean_drifters_init, update_ocean_drifters, ocean_drifters_end
 use wave_types_mod,               only: ocean_wave_type
 use ocean_wave_mod,               only: ocean_wave_init, ocean_wave_end, ocean_wave_model
-use version_mod,                  only: MOM_COMMIT_HASH
+#if defined(COSIMA_VERSION)
+  use version_mod,                  only: MOM_COMMIT_HASH
+#endif
 
 #if defined(ACCESS_CM) || defined(ACCESS_OM)
   use auscom_ice_mod, only: auscom_ice_init