Test if file VERSION exists

README.md

@@ -15,12 +15,17 @@ content:
 
 toplevel=$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel)
 f=${toplevel}/VERSION
-touch $f
+
+if [ ! -f "$f" ]; then
+  touch "$f"
+  git add "$f" 2>/dev/null
+fi
+
 old_version=$(cat $f)
 new_version=$(git describe --tags --abbrev=0)
 
 if [ "$old_version" != "$new_version" ]; then
-  echo "$new_version" > $f
+  echo "$new_version" > "$f"
   git commit -am "update version to '"$new_version"'"
   git push origin # Is required because normal push does not necessarily happen
 fi