diff --git a/python/hyperon/__init__.py b/python/hyperon/__init__.py
index f6f9b7973..c6763cee4 100644
--- a/python/hyperon/__init__.py
+++ b/python/hyperon/__init__.py
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 from .atoms import *
 from .base import *
 from .runner import *
-from ._version import __version__ as _ver
 
-if _ver is None:
+try:
+    from ._version import __version__ as _ver
+    __version__ = _ver
+except Exception:
     from pathlib import Path
     path = Path(__file__).parent / "../VERSION"
     with path.open() as f: ver = f.read().splitlines()[0].split("'")[1]
-    __version__ = ver + "+localbuild"
-else:
-    __version__ = _ver
\ No newline at end of file
+    __version__ = ver + "+localbuild"
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/python/hyperon/_version.py b/python/hyperon/_version.py
deleted file mode 100644
index c8ffb60db..000000000
--- a/python/hyperon/_version.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-__version__ = None
\ No newline at end of file