diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 17bd0e5..2e97b71 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -36,6 +36,14 @@ jobs:
               exit 1
             fi
           fi
+
+      - name: ensure version is not already released
+        run: |
+          if git ls-remote --tags origin | grep -q "refs/tags/$VERSION"; then
+            echo "Version $VERSION already exists"
+            exit 1
+          fi
+
       - name: configure git with the bot credentials
         run: |
           mkdir -p ~/.ssh
@@ -58,6 +66,18 @@ jobs:
 
           git rev-parse --short HEAD
 
+      - name: bump version in version file
+        run: |
+          echo $VERSION > VERSION
+        working-directory: ./go-highs
+
+      - name: commit version bump
+        run: |
+          git add VERSION
+          git commit -m "Bumping version to $VERSION"
+          git push origin ${{ github.ref_name }}
+        working-directory: ./go-highs
+
       - name: push release tag
         run: |
           git tag $VERSION
diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b7c0a9b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+v1.6.0
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index e265f3e..1fd3c6d 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ module github.com/nextmv-io/go-highs
 
 go 1.21
 
-require github.com/nextmv-io/go-mip v1.6.0
+require github.com/nextmv-io/go-mip v1.6.1
 
 require (
 	github.com/sergi/go-diff v1.3.1 // indirect
diff --git a/go.sum b/go.sum
index cafb9d5..0713169 100644
--- a/go.sum
+++ b/go.sum
@@ -302,8 +302,8 @@ github.com/modern-go/reflect2 v0.0.0-20180701023420-4b7aa43c6742/go.mod h1:bx2lN
 github.com/modern-go/reflect2 v1.0.1/go.mod h1:bx2lNnkwVCuqBIxFjflWJWanXIb3RllmbCylyMrvgv0=
 github.com/modern-go/reflect2 v1.0.2/go.mod h1:yWuevngMOJpCy52FWWMvUC8ws7m/LJsjYzDa0/r8luk=
 github.com/mwitkow/go-conntrack v0.0.0-20161129095857-cc309e4a2223/go.mod h1:qRWi+5nqEBWmkhHvq77mSJWrCKwh8bxhgT7d/eI7P4U=
-github.com/nextmv-io/go-mip v1.6.0 h1:UULt5UcLvLLISWMcXBq+1Q+rO9eV9gUH15wT0dfCzZM=
-github.com/nextmv-io/go-mip v1.6.0/go.mod h1:8kETFsctIoqHLo+YpBoo9QdXYvhxUxJzJzyCQaf6YLc=
+github.com/nextmv-io/go-mip v1.6.1 h1:bIdLSuYu1L5P6BoKWA+Joiy6wCWrrEPYNi8ml7H4GKc=
+github.com/nextmv-io/go-mip v1.6.1/go.mod h1:8kETFsctIoqHLo+YpBoo9QdXYvhxUxJzJzyCQaf6YLc=
 github.com/nextmv-io/sdk v1.8.0 h1:EqYibIyeaFRc9zgyPUUwbD2nx9z37l18YfJfVe1wHCU=
 github.com/nextmv-io/sdk v1.8.0/go.mod h1:Y48XLPcIOOxRgO86ICNpqGrH2N5+dd1TDNvef/FD2Kc=
 github.com/opentracing/opentracing-go v1.2.0/go.mod h1:GxEUsuufX4nBwe+T+Wl9TAgYrxe9dPLANfrWvHYVTgc=
diff --git a/version.go b/version.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bd9fdbd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/version.go
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+// © 2019-present nextmv.io inc
+
+package highs
+
+import (
+	_ "embed"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+//go:embed VERSION
+var version string
+
+// Version returns the version of the highs module.
+func Version() string {
+	return strings.TrimSpace(version)
+}