diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/os/linux.rb b/Library/Homebrew/os/linux.rb
index 709dd2d57e..e813f1f13b 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/os/linux.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/os/linux.rb
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ module OS
         end
       elsif (redhat_release = Pathname.new("/etc/redhat-release")).readable?
         redhat_release.read.chomp
+      elsif ::OS_VERSION.present?
+        ::OS_VERSION
       else
         "Unknown"
       end