diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index a42d80b2d8..bf6d0f7393 100755
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ else:
 
 class sdist_isolated(sdist):
     includes = [
+        'include VERSION',
         'include Makefile',
         'include awx/__init__.py',
         'include awx/main/expect/run.py',