diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 828778f..9050991 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@
 # you don't need (for example BLT) by erasing or commenting out
 # the corresponding code.
 #
-AC_INIT(sqlcipher, 2.0.6)
+AC_INIT(sqlcipher, m4_esyscmd([cat VERSION | tr -d '\n']))
 
 dnl Make sure the local VERSION file matches this configure script
 sqlite_version_sanity_check=`cat $srcdir/VERSION | tr -d '\n'`