diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index 9bcd85df028991502a70155f95878943810fa139..d13822f0762275f3c539171258b15b12267addf8 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -237,4 +237,4 @@ test-plugins: all-am $(extprograms_test_cases)
 check: check-am test
 
 version:
-	$(AM_V_GEN)$(top_srcdir)/build-aux/git-version-gen > $@
+	$(AM_V_GEN)env VERSION=$(PACKAGE_VERSION) $(top_srcdir)/build-aux/git-version-gen > $@