diff --git a/GIT_VERSION b/GIT_VERSION
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..6002f22fa25
--- /dev/null
+++ b/GIT_VERSION
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+$Format:%h$
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
deleted file mode 100644
index 85e0e216a38..00000000000
--- a/VERSION
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-2.1.0-rc1