diff --git a/Marlin/src/MarlinCore.cpp b/Marlin/src/MarlinCore.cpp
index 9b508b0e9f9..c9a0a5432ec 100644
--- a/Marlin/src/MarlinCore.cpp
+++ b/Marlin/src/MarlinCore.cpp
@@ -1277,7 +1277,7 @@ void setup() {
 
   // Identify myself as Marlin x.x.x
   SERIAL_ECHOLNPGM("Marlin " SHORT_BUILD_VERSION);
-  #if defined(STRING_DISTRIBUTION_DATE) && defined(STRING_CONFIG_H_AUTHOR)
+  #ifdef STRING_DISTRIBUTION_DATE
     SERIAL_ECHO_MSG(
       " Last Updated: " STRING_DISTRIBUTION_DATE
       " | Author: " STRING_CONFIG_H_AUTHOR
diff --git a/Marlin/src/feature/ethernet.cpp b/Marlin/src/feature/ethernet.cpp
index c5bfa932cb5..9b022b4e17e 100644
--- a/Marlin/src/feature/ethernet.cpp
+++ b/Marlin/src/feature/ethernet.cpp
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ void MarlinEthernet::check() {
 
     case CONNECTING:
       telnetClient.println("Marlin " SHORT_BUILD_VERSION);
-      #if defined(STRING_DISTRIBUTION_DATE) && defined(STRING_CONFIG_H_AUTHOR)
+      #ifdef STRING_DISTRIBUTION_DATE
         telnetClient.println(
           " Last Updated: " STRING_DISTRIBUTION_DATE
           " | Author: " STRING_CONFIG_H_AUTHOR
diff --git a/Marlin/src/inc/Conditionals_LCD.h b/Marlin/src/inc/Conditionals_LCD.h
index 4e5aa0bc0dc..573cfb0d3c7 100644
--- a/Marlin/src/inc/Conditionals_LCD.h
+++ b/Marlin/src/inc/Conditionals_LCD.h
@@ -26,6 +26,10 @@
  * Conditionals that need to be set before Configuration_adv.h or pins.h
  */
 
+#ifndef STRING_CONFIG_H_AUTHOR
+  #define STRING_CONFIG_H_AUTHOR "(anonymous)"
+#endif
+
 /**
  * Extruders have some combination of stepper motors and hotends
  * so we separate these concepts into the defines: