diff --git a/java-17-openjdk.spec b/java-17-openjdk.spec
index b56ff89..3522d10 100644
--- a/java-17-openjdk.spec
+++ b/java-17-openjdk.spec
@@ -2508,6 +2508,7 @@ cjc.mainProgram(args)
 - openjdk_news.sh: shellcheck: Remove deprecated egrep usage (SC2196)
 - generate_source_tarball.sh: Output values of new options WITH_TEMP and OPENJDK_LATEST
 - generate_source_tarball.sh: Double-quote DEPTH reference (SC2086)
+- generate_source_tarball.sh: Avoid empty DEPTH reference while still appeasing shellcheck
 
 * Mon Jul  8 2024 Thomas Fitzsimmons <fitzsim@redhat.com> - 1:17.0.12.0.6-0.1.ea
 - Update to jdk-17.0.12+6 (EA)
diff --git a/scripts/generate_source_tarball.sh b/scripts/generate_source_tarball.sh
index 9281589..0af33c3 100755
--- a/scripts/generate_source_tarball.sh
+++ b/scripts/generate_source_tarball.sh
@@ -221,11 +221,12 @@ else
         echo "Cloning ${VERSION} root repository from ${REPO_ROOT}"
         if realpath -q "${REPO_ROOT}"; then
             echo "Local path detected; not adding depth argument";
+            DEPTH="--";
         else
             DEPTH="--depth=1";
             echo "Remote repository detected; adding ${DEPTH}";
         fi
-        git clone "${DEPTH}" -b "${VERSION}" "${REPO_ROOT}" "${VERSION}"
+        git clone -b "${VERSION}" "${DEPTH}" "${REPO_ROOT}" "${VERSION}"
         pushd "${VERSION}"
             TAR_TIME="$(git log --max-count 1 --format=%cI)"
         popd