diff --git a/Arduino/CanGrow/include/CanGrow.h b/Arduino/CanGrow/include/CanGrow.h
index 2c3d670..51fa74c 100644
--- a/Arduino/CanGrow/include/CanGrow.h
+++ b/Arduino/CanGrow/include/CanGrow.h
@@ -29,6 +29,16 @@
 
 //#include "CanGrow_Version.h"
 
+// ensure the code will also compile when CANGROW_VER and CANGROW_BUILD
+// are not defined by the compiler arguments
+#ifndef CANGROW_VER
+#define CANGROW_VER "dev"
+#endif
+#ifndef CANGROW_BUILD
+#define CANGROW_BUILD "0000"
+#endif
+
+
 struct Config_WiFi {
   char ssid[32];
   char password[64];