diff --git a/lib/discourse.rb b/lib/discourse.rb
index 1c7b1a31abe..e7e2df83e20 100644
--- a/lib/discourse.rb
+++ b/lib/discourse.rb
@@ -801,17 +801,11 @@ module Discourse
   end
 
   def self.try_git(git_cmd, default_value)
-    version_value = false
-
     begin
-      version_value = `#{git_cmd}`.strip
+      `#{git_cmd}`.strip
     rescue StandardError
-      version_value = default_value
-    end
-
-    version_value = default_value if version_value.empty?
-
-    version_value
+      default_value
+    end.presence || default_value
   end
 
   # Either returns the site_contact_username user or the first admin.