diff --git a/rhodecode/__init__.py b/rhodecode/__init__.py
--- a/rhodecode/__init__.py
+++ b/rhodecode/__init__.py
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ log.debug(f'{now} Starting RhodeCode imp
 
 
 VERSION = tuple(open(os.path.join(
-    os.path.dirname(__file__), 'VERSION')).read().split('.'))
+    os.path.dirname(__file__), 'VERSION')).read().strip().split('.'))
 
 BACKENDS = collections.OrderedDict()