diff --git a/Mk/bsd.port.mk b/Mk/bsd.port.mk
--- a/Mk/bsd.port.mk
+++ b/Mk/bsd.port.mk
@@ -1720,6 +1720,10 @@
 CONFIGURE_ENV+=		PATH=${PATH}
 .    endif
 
+# prevent ports that try to find their version using git from finding the ports
+# tree's git repository.
+WRK_ENV+=		GIT_CEILING_DIRECTORIES=${WRKDIR:H}
+
 PKGCONFIG_LINKDIR=	${WRKDIR}/.pkgconfig
 PKGCONFIG_BASEDIR=	/usr/libdata/pkgconfig
 .    if !${MAKE_ENV:MPKG_CONFIG_LIBDIR=*} && !${CONFIGURE_ENV:MPKG_CONFIG_LIBDIR=*}