diff --git a/gpax/__init__.py b/gpax/__init__.py
index 44c3c1e..f4a8f73 100644
--- a/gpax/__init__.py
+++ b/gpax/__init__.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+from gpax._version import __version__
+
 from . import acquisition, kernels, utils
 from .hypo import sample_next
 from .models import (
@@ -42,12 +44,3 @@
     "CoregGP",
     "sample_next",
 ]
-
-try:
-    # _version.py is only written dynamically during build time
-    from gpax._version import __version__
-except ImportError:
-    import dunamai as _dunamai
-
-    __version__ = _dunamai.Version.from_any_vcs().serialize()
-    del _dunamai
diff --git a/gpax/_version.py b/gpax/_version.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cabbf9c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gpax/_version.py
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+"""Version file. This is overwritten during build and will contain a static
+__version__ variable."""
+
+import dunamai as _dunamai
+
+__version__ = _dunamai.Version.from_any_vcs().serialize()
+del _dunamai