diff --git a/cores/esp8266/core_version.h b/cores/esp8266/core_version.h
index e4556d7e03..04c95c80c5 100644
--- a/cores/esp8266/core_version.h
+++ b/cores/esp8266/core_version.h
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
+#ifndef ARDUINO_ESP8266_GIT_VER
 #define ARDUINO_ESP8266_GIT_VER 0x00000000
+#endif
+
+#ifndef ARDUINO_ESP8266_GIT_DESC
 #define ARDUINO_ESP8266_GIT_DESC unspecified
+#endif
 
 // ARDUINO_ESP8266_RELEASE is defined for released versions as a string containing the version name, i.e. "2_3_0_RC1"
 // ARDUINO_ESP8266_RELEASE is used in the core internally. Please use ESP.getCoreVersion() function instead.