diff --git a/vcsserver/__init__.py b/vcsserver/__init__.py
--- a/vcsserver/__init__.py
+++ b/vcsserver/__init__.py
@@ -15,10 +15,16 @@
 # along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation,
 # Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301  USA
 
-import pkgutil
+import os
 
 
-__version__ = pkgutil.get_data('vcsserver', 'VERSION').strip().decode()
+def get_version():
+    here = os.path.abspath(os.path.dirname(__file__))
+    ver_file = os.path.join(here, "VERSION")
+    with open(ver_file, "rt") as f:
+        version = f.read().strip()
+
+    return version
 
 # link to config for pyramid
 CONFIG = {}
diff --git a/vcsserver/hook_utils/__init__.py b/vcsserver/hook_utils/__init__.py
--- a/vcsserver/hook_utils/__init__.py
+++ b/vcsserver/hook_utils/__init__.py
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ def install_git_hooks(repo_path, bare, e
             log.debug('writing git %s hook file at %s !', h_type, _hook_file)
             try:
                 with open(_hook_file, 'wb') as f:
-                    template = template.replace(b'_TMPL_', safe_bytes(vcsserver.__version__))
+                    template = template.replace(b'_TMPL_', safe_bytes(vcsserver.get_version()))
                     template = template.replace(b'_DATE_', safe_bytes(timestamp))
                     template = template.replace(b'_ENV_', safe_bytes(executable))
                     template = template.replace(b'_PATH_', safe_bytes(path))
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ def install_svn_hooks(repo_path, executa
 
             try:
                 with open(_hook_file, 'wb') as f:
-                    template = template.replace(b'_TMPL_', safe_bytes(vcsserver.__version__))
+                    template = template.replace(b'_TMPL_', safe_bytes(vcsserver.get_version()))
                     template = template.replace(b'_DATE_', safe_bytes(timestamp))
                     template = template.replace(b'_ENV_', safe_bytes(executable))
                     template = template.replace(b'_PATH_', safe_bytes(path))
diff --git a/vcsserver/http_main.py b/vcsserver/http_main.py
--- a/vcsserver/http_main.py
+++ b/vcsserver/http_main.py
@@ -465,7 +465,7 @@ class HTTPApplication:
 
         return {
             "status": "OK",
-            "vcsserver_version": vcsserver.__version__,
+            "vcsserver_version": vcsserver.get_version(),
             "platform": _platform_id,
             "pid": os.getpid(),
         }
@@ -495,7 +495,7 @@ class HTTPApplication:
         resp = {
             'id': payload.get('id'),
             'result': dict(
-                version=vcsserver.__version__,
+                version=vcsserver.get_version(),
                 config=server_config,
                 app_config=app_config,
                 environ=environ,
diff --git a/vcsserver/remote/hg_remote.py b/vcsserver/remote/hg_remote.py
--- a/vcsserver/remote/hg_remote.py
+++ b/vcsserver/remote/hg_remote.py
@@ -1178,8 +1178,8 @@ class HgRemote(RemoteBase):
     @reraise_safe_exceptions
     def get_hooks_info(self, wire):
         return {
-            'pre_version': vcsserver.__version__,
-            'post_version': vcsserver.__version__,
+            'pre_version': vcsserver.get_version(),
+            'post_version': vcsserver.get_version(),
         }
 
     @reraise_safe_exceptions
diff --git a/vcsserver/tests/test_install_hooks.py b/vcsserver/tests/test_install_hooks.py
--- a/vcsserver/tests/test_install_hooks.py
+++ b/vcsserver/tests/test_install_hooks.py
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ class BaseInstallHooks:
             content = hook_file.read()
 
         expected_env = '#!{}'.format(executable)
-        expected_rc_version = "\nRC_HOOK_VER = '{}'\n".format(vcsserver.__version__)
+        expected_rc_version = "\nRC_HOOK_VER = '{}'\n".format(vcsserver.get_version())
         assert content.strip().startswith(expected_env)
         assert expected_rc_version in content
 
diff --git a/vcsserver/tweens/request_wrapper.py b/vcsserver/tweens/request_wrapper.py
--- a/vcsserver/tweens/request_wrapper.py
+++ b/vcsserver/tweens/request_wrapper.py
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ class RequestWrapperTween:
             repo_name = call_context.get('X-RC-Repo-Name', '')
 
             count = request.request_count()
-            _ver_ = vcsserver.__version__
+            _ver_ = vcsserver.get_version()
             _path = safe_str(get_access_path(request.environ))
 
             ip = '127.0.0.1'