diff --git a/deepmd/__about__.py b/deepmd/__about__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2c6b9a1374
--- /dev/null
+++ b/deepmd/__about__.py
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+__version__ = 'unknown'
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 7cbf47c780..4c6ccc123d 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
 setup(
     name="deepmd-kit",
     setup_requires=setup_requires,
-    use_scm_version={'write_to': 'source/train/_version.py'},
+    use_scm_version={'write_to': 'deepmd/_version.py'},
     author="Han Wang",
     author_email="wang_han@iapcm.ac.cn",
     description="A deep learning package for many-body potential energy representation and molecular dynamics",
diff --git a/source/train/__init__.py b/source/train/__init__.py
index 5ee947046a..5d656dc0d4 100644
--- a/source/train/__init__.py
+++ b/source/train/__init__.py
@@ -6,3 +6,8 @@
 
 set_mkl()
 
+try:
+    from ._version import version as __version__
+except ImportError:
+    from .__about__ import __version__
+