diff --git a/code/CMakeModules/nel.cmake b/code/CMakeModules/nel.cmake
index 488ad952d..24092cfea 100644
--- a/code/CMakeModules/nel.cmake
+++ b/code/CMakeModules/nel.cmake
@@ -30,21 +30,28 @@ MACRO(NL_GEN_REVISION_H)
     ADD_DEFINITIONS(-DHAVE_REVISION_H)
     SET(HAVE_REVISION_H ON)
 
-    # a custom target that is always built
-    ADD_CUSTOM_TARGET(revision ALL
-      DEPENDS ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/revision.h)
+    # if already generated
+    IF(EXISTS ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/revision.h)
+      # copy it
+      MESSAGE(STATUS "Copying provided revision.h...")
+      FILE(COPY ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/revision.h DESTINATION ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR})
+    ELSE(EXISTS ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/revision.h)
+      # a custom target that is always built
+      ADD_CUSTOM_TARGET(revision ALL
+        DEPENDS ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/revision.h)
 
-    # creates revision.h using cmake script
-    ADD_CUSTOM_COMMAND(OUTPUT ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/revision.h
-      COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND}
-      -DSOURCE_DIR=${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}
-      -DROOT_DIR=${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/..
-      -P ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/CMakeModules/GetRevision.cmake)
+      # creates revision.h using cmake script
+      ADD_CUSTOM_COMMAND(OUTPUT ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/revision.h
+        COMMAND ${CMAKE_COMMAND}
+        -DSOURCE_DIR=${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}
+        -DROOT_DIR=${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/..
+        -P ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/CMakeModules/GetRevision.cmake)
 
-    # revision.h is a generated file
-    SET_SOURCE_FILES_PROPERTIES(${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/revision.h
-      PROPERTIES GENERATED TRUE
-      HEADER_FILE_ONLY TRUE)
+      # revision.h is a generated file
+      SET_SOURCE_FILES_PROPERTIES(${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/revision.h
+        PROPERTIES GENERATED TRUE
+        HEADER_FILE_ONLY TRUE)
+    ENDIF(EXISTS ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/revision.h)
   ENDIF(EXISTS ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/revision.h.in)
 ENDMACRO(NL_GEN_REVISION_H)