diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 4e50d9c..2cae49d 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,7 +1,11 @@
 cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.16)
 
 # Firmware version = git describe (tags, dirty flag). Reported by esp_app_get_description()
-# and in status.fw / GET /api/ota. Re-run cmake (idf.py reconfigure) to pick up a new tag.
+# and in status.fw / GET /api/ota. CMake re-runs when git's HEAD log or index changes (commit,
+# checkout, add), so the version follows. A new tag or unstaged edits need `idf.py reconfigure`.
+set_property(DIRECTORY APPEND PROPERTY CMAKE_CONFIGURE_DEPENDS
+    ${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/.git/logs/HEAD
+    ${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/.git/index)
 execute_process(
     COMMAND git describe --tags --always --dirty
     WORKING_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}