diff --git a/doc/Makefile.in b/doc/Makefile.in
index 523174ab4..4b1ee9f11 100644
--- a/doc/Makefile.in
+++ b/doc/Makefile.in
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ VPATH = @srcdir@
 
 # Determine the version of the library
 
-version = $(shell cat $(top_srcdir)/VERSION)
+version = @PACKAGE_VERSION@
 
 .PHONY: libsrtpdoc clean
 libsrtpdoc: