diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index c2fde975a..6c152df30 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ README.md: templates/README.md dist/lips.js .$(VERSION)
 	"s/{{VER_DASH}}/$(VERSION_DASH)/g" -e "s#{{BRANCH}}#$(BRANCH)#g" -e "s/{{CHECKSUM}}/$(TESTS_CHECKSUM)/g" \
 	-e "s/{{YEAR}}/${YEAR}/g"  -e "s/{{DATE}}/${DATE_SHORT}/" -e "s/{{COMMIT}}/$(COMMIT)/g" \
 	< templates/README.md > README.md || \
-	$(SED) -e "s/{{VER}}/$(VERSION)/g" -e "s/{{BRANCH}}/$(BRANCH)/g" -e "s/{{YEAR}}/${YEAR}/g" \
+	$(SED) -e "s/{{VER}}/$(VERSION)/g" -e "s#{{BRANCH}}#$(BRANCH)#g" -e "s/{{YEAR}}/${YEAR}/g" \
 	-e "s/{{CHECKSUM}}/$(TESTS_CHECKSUM)/g" -e "s/{{COMMIT}}/$(COMMIT)/g" -e "s/{{DATE}}/${DATE_SHORT}/" \
 	-e "s/{{VER_DASH}}/$(VERSION_DASH)/g" < templates/README.md > README.md