diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 46312ee856..8623f98b4f 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -1629,7 +1629,7 @@ fi
 
 # Create compiler version string
 if test x"$GCC" = x"yes" ; then
-  cc_string="GCC `${CC} --version | head -1`"
+  cc_string="GCC `${CC} --version | sed q`"
 else
   cc_string=$CC
 fi
diff --git a/configure.in b/configure.in
index 165f546464..f69658acfc 100644
--- a/configure.in
+++ b/configure.in
@@ -297,7 +297,7 @@ AC_SUBST(GCC)
 
 # Create compiler version string
 if test x"$GCC" = x"yes" ; then
-  cc_string="GCC `${CC} --version | head -1`"
+  cc_string="GCC `${CC} --version | sed q`"
 else
   cc_string=$CC
 fi