diff --git a/cdist/__init__.py b/cdist/__init__.py
index 26e7d071..350a2765 100644
--- a/cdist/__init__.py
+++ b/cdist/__init__.py
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ try:
     import cdist.version
     VERSION = cdist.version.VERSION
 except ModuleNotFoundError:
-    VERSION = 'from git'
+    VERSION = 'unknown version'
 
 BANNER = """
              ..          .       .x+=:.        s