diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 9f44606..59ef307 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+/.tarball-version
+/.version
 /aclocal.m4
 /autom4te.cache/
 /autoscan.log
diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index dc1ed7e..4e1eeae 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -4,8 +4,14 @@ AUTOMAKE_OPTIONS = gnu
 ACLOCAL_AMFLAGS = -I m4
 
 EXTRA_DIST = \
-	.tarball-version \
+	.version \
 	build-aux/git-version-gen \
 	m4/gnulib-cache.m4
 
 SUBDIRS = doc lib src man tests contrib
+
+BUILT_SOURCES = $(top_srcdir)/.version
+$(top_srcdir)/.version:
+	echo $(VERSION) > $@-t && mv $@-t $@
+dist-hook:
+	echo $(VERSION) > $(distdir)/.tarball-version