diff --git a/indra/cmake/BuildVersion.cmake b/indra/cmake/BuildVersion.cmake
index 81a228706..a7ce3d0d6 100644
--- a/indra/cmake/BuildVersion.cmake
+++ b/indra/cmake/BuildVersion.cmake
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ if (NOT DEFINED VIEWER_SHORT_VERSION) # will be true in indra/, false in indra/n
     endif ("${VIEWER_VERSION_REVISION}" STREQUAL "")
 
     set(VIEWER_CHANNEL_VERSION_DEFINES
-        "LL_VIEWER_CHANNEL=\"${VIEWER_CHANNEL}\""
+        "LL_VIEWER_CHANNEL=u8\"${VIEWER_CHANNEL}\""
         "LL_VIEWER_VERSION_MAJOR=${VIEWER_VERSION_MAJOR}"
         "LL_VIEWER_VERSION_MINOR=${VIEWER_VERSION_MINOR}"
         "LL_VIEWER_VERSION_PATCH=${VIEWER_VERSION_PATCH}"