diff --git a/cli/app/new.go b/cli/app/new.go
index 13e9c831..8428b4a7 100644
--- a/cli/app/new.go
+++ b/cli/app/new.go
@@ -110,12 +110,14 @@ var AppNewCommand = &cobra.Command{
 					log.Fatal(err)
 				}
 
-				head, err := recipe.Head()
-				if err != nil {
-					log.Fatalf("failed to retrieve latest commit for %s: %s", recipe.Name, err)
-				}
+				if recipeVersion == "" {
+					head, err := recipe.Head()
+					if err != nil {
+						log.Fatalf("failed to retrieve latest commit for %s: %s", recipe.Name, err)
+					}
 
-				recipeVersion = formatter.SmallSHA(head.String())
+					recipeVersion = formatter.SmallSHA(head.String())
+				}
 			}
 		}