diff --git a/.github/workflows/linux.yml b/.github/workflows/linux.yml
index 390ff145f..07a7dc60a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/linux.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/linux.yml
@@ -81,6 +81,9 @@ jobs:
 
     - name: Check out
       uses: actions/checkout@v2
+      # have to fetch everything for git describe for --version
+      with: fetch-depth: 0        
+      run: git fetch --depth=1 origin +refs/tags/*:refs/tags/*
 
     # things to be cached/restored:
 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/mac.yml b/.github/workflows/mac.yml
index cce2ce7f1..fea6c75d2 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/mac.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/mac.yml
@@ -51,6 +51,9 @@ jobs:
 
     - name: Check out
       uses: actions/checkout@v2
+      # have to fetch everything for git describe for --version
+      with: fetch-depth: 0        
+      run: git fetch --depth=1 origin +refs/tags/*:refs/tags/*
 
     # things to be cached/restored:
 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/push.yml b/.github/workflows/push.yml
index 80e825b7e..4a7858d9f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/push.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/push.yml
@@ -46,6 +46,9 @@ jobs:
 
     - name: Check out
       uses: actions/checkout@v2
+      # have to fetch everything for git describe for --version
+      with: fetch-depth: 0        
+      run: git fetch --depth=1 origin +refs/tags/*:refs/tags/*
 
     # things to be cached/restored:
 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/windows.yml b/.github/workflows/windows.yml
index 6d6128ac0..7ea1a1c24 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/windows.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/windows.yml
@@ -41,6 +41,9 @@ jobs:
 
     - name: Check out
       uses: actions/checkout@v2
+      # have to fetch everything for git describe for --version
+      with: fetch-depth: 0        
+      run: git fetch --depth=1 origin +refs/tags/*:refs/tags/*
 
     # things to be cached/restored: