diff --git a/homeassistant/components/github/sensor.py b/homeassistant/components/github/sensor.py
index c77cf7930b8..406876de807 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/github/sensor.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/github/sensor.py
@@ -132,12 +132,12 @@ class GitHubSensor(Entity):
         self._github_data.update()
 
         self._name = self._github_data.name
-        self._state = self._github_data.latest_commit_sha
         self._repository_path = self._github_data.repository_path
         self._available = self._github_data.available
         self._latest_commit_message = self._github_data.latest_commit_message
         self._latest_commit_sha = self._github_data.latest_commit_sha
         self._latest_release_url = self._github_data.latest_release_url
+        self._state = self._github_data.latest_commit_sha[0:8]
         self._open_issue_count = self._github_data.open_issue_count
         self._latest_open_issue_url = self._github_data.latest_open_issue_url
         self._pull_request_count = self._github_data.pull_request_count