--- linux/Makefile	2004-08-16 21:31:21.850402752 -0400
+++ linux/Makefile	2004-08-16 21:48:22.372259848 -0400
@@ -357,7 +357,7 @@
 	@rm -f .ver1
 
 include/linux/version.h: ./Makefile
-	@expr length "$(KERNELRELEASE)" \<= $(uts_len) > /dev/null || \
+	@expr "$(KERNELRELEASE)" : '.*' \<= $(uts_len) > /dev/null || \
 	  (echo KERNELRELEASE \"$(KERNELRELEASE)\" exceeds $(uts_len) characters >&2; false)
 	@echo \#define UTS_RELEASE \"$(KERNELRELEASE)\" > .ver
 	@echo \#define LINUX_VERSION_CODE `expr $(VERSION) \\* 65536 + $(PATCHLEVEL) \\* 256 + $(SUBLEVEL)` >> .ver
