diff --git a/meta/classes/metadata_scm.bbclass b/meta/classes/metadata_scm.bbclass
index 8d3988ace8..ba0edf9486 100644
--- a/meta/classes/metadata_scm.bbclass
+++ b/meta/classes/metadata_scm.bbclass
@@ -54,11 +54,13 @@ def base_get_metadata_monotone_revision(path, d):
     return monotone_revision
 
 def base_get_metadata_svn_revision(path, d):
+    # This only works with older subversion. For newer versions 
+    # this function will need to be fixed by someone interested
     revision = "<unknown>"
     try:
         with open("%s/.svn/entries" % path) as f:
             revision = f.readlines()[3].strip()
-    except IOError:
+    except IOError, IndexError:
         pass
     return revision