diff --git a/src/d_main.c b/src/d_main.c
index ac454f6cb..128fe9c0b 100644
--- a/src/d_main.c
+++ b/src/d_main.c
@@ -1189,6 +1189,17 @@ D_ConvertVersionNumbers (void)
 #endif
 }
 
+const char *D_GetFancyBranchName(void)
+{
+	if (!strcmp(compbranch, ""))
+	{
+		// \x8b = aqua highlight
+		return "\x8b" "detached HEAD" "\x80";
+	}
+
+	return compbranch;
+}
+
 //
 // D_SRB2Main
 //
@@ -1206,12 +1217,6 @@ void D_SRB2Main(void)
 	/* break the version string into version numbers, for netplay */
 	D_ConvertVersionNumbers();
 
-	if (!strcmp(compbranch, ""))
-	{
-		// \x8b = aqua highlight
-		compbranch = "\x8b" "detached HEAD" "\x80";
-	}
-
 #ifdef DEVELOP
 	D_AbbrevCommit();
 #endif
diff --git a/src/d_main.h b/src/d_main.h
index 0b4f6f19d..ee636e387 100644
--- a/src/d_main.h
+++ b/src/d_main.h
@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@ void D_SRB2Loop(void) FUNCNORETURN;
 //
 void D_SRB2Main(void);
 
+const char *D_GetFancyBranchName(void);
+
 // Called by IO functions when input is detected.
 void D_PostEvent(const event_t *ev);
 #if defined (PC_DOS) && !defined (DOXYGEN)
diff --git a/src/d_netcmd.c b/src/d_netcmd.c
index 7529a5e94..1ebda16d5 100644
--- a/src/d_netcmd.c
+++ b/src/d_netcmd.c
@@ -4772,9 +4772,9 @@ static void Command_ListDoomednums_f(void)
 static void Command_Version_f(void)
 {
 #ifdef DEVELOP
-	CONS_Printf("Ring Racers %s %s %s (%s %s)\n", compbranch, comprevision, compnote, compdate, comptime);
+	CONS_Printf("Ring Racers %s %s %s (%s %s)\n", D_GetFancyBranchName(), comprevision, compnote, compdate, comptime);
 #else
-	CONS_Printf("Ring Racers %s (%s %s %s %s) ", VERSIONSTRING, compdate, comptime, comprevision, compbranch);
+	CONS_Printf("Ring Racers %s (%s %s %s %s) ", VERSIONSTRING, compdate, comptime, comprevision, D_GetFancyBranchName());
 #endif
 
 	// Base library
diff --git a/src/f_finale.c b/src/f_finale.c
index 54a7bbb3b..2a7d83146 100644
--- a/src/f_finale.c
+++ b/src/f_finale.c
@@ -1914,7 +1914,7 @@ void F_VersionDrawer(void)
 		addtext(V_ALLOWLOWERCASE|V_TRANSLUCENT, va("%s", compdate));
 #elif defined(DEVELOP)
 		addtext(V_ALLOWLOWERCASE|V_TRANSLUCENT, va("%s %s", comprevision, compnote));
-		addtext(V_ALLOWLOWERCASE|V_TRANSLUCENT, compbranch);
+		addtext(V_ALLOWLOWERCASE|V_TRANSLUCENT, D_GetFancyBranchName());
 #else // Regular build
 		addtext(V_ALLOWLOWERCASE|V_TRANSLUCENT, va("%s", VERSIONSTRING));
 #endif