diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 5b58cab4..71404648 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -9,4 +9,4 @@ doc/build
 source/api
 scikits/image/opencv/*.new
 build
-
+scikits/image/version.py
diff --git a/scikits/image/__init__.py b/scikits/image/__init__.py
index d9a2ef07..3640c1ee 100644
--- a/scikits/image/__init__.py
+++ b/scikits/image/__init__.py
@@ -5,3 +5,4 @@ import os.path as _osp
 
 data_dir = _osp.join(_osp.dirname(__file__), 'data')
 
+from version import version as __version__
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 02d19849..160fca2d 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -37,7 +37,22 @@ def configuration(parent_package='', top_path=None):
 
     return config
 
+def write_version_py(filename='scikits/image/version.py'):
+    template = """# THIS FILE IS GENERATED FROM THE SCIKITS.IMAGE SETUP.PY
+version='%s'
+"""
+
+    vfile = open(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__),
+                              filename), 'w')
+
+    try:
+        vfile.write(template % VERSION)
+    finally:
+        vfile.close()
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
+    write_version_py()
+
     setup(
         name=DISTNAME,
         description=DESCRIPTION,