diff --git a/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/renderers/CodeClimateRenderer.java b/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/renderers/CodeClimateRenderer.java
index 064a891a52..e45bfaa9b8 100644
--- a/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/renderers/CodeClimateRenderer.java
+++ b/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/renderers/CodeClimateRenderer.java
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ public class CodeClimateRenderer extends AbstractIncrementingRenderer {
 
     private static String getPmdDeveloperURL() {
         String url = "http://pmd.github.io/pmd-" + PMD.VERSION + "/customizing/pmd-developer.html";
-        if (PMD.VERSION.contains("SNAPSHOT")) {
+        if (PMD.VERSION.contains("SNAPSHOT") || "unknown".equals(PMD.VERSION)) {
             url = "http://pmd.sourceforge.net/snapshot/customizing/pmd-developer.html";
         }
         return url;