diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 2444e6a..9682782 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -52,3 +52,6 @@ compile_commands.json
 
 # DS_Store
 .DS_Store
+
+# temps
+/version
diff --git a/dev.makefile b/dev.makefile
index 1a4be6a..545ff27 100644
--- a/dev.makefile
+++ b/dev.makefile
@@ -1,9 +1,11 @@
 # This is only for jsoncpp developers/contributors.
 # We use this to sign releases, generate documentation, etc.
-VER?=$(shell cat version.txt)
+VER?=$(shell cat version)
 
 default:
 	@echo "VER=${VER}"
+update-version:
+	perl get_version.pl meson.build >| version
 sign: jsoncpp-${VER}.tar.gz
 	gpg --armor --detach-sign $<
 	gpg --verify $<.asc
diff --git a/get_version.pl b/get_version.pl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..19b6a54
--- /dev/null
+++ b/get_version.pl
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+while (<>) {
+	if (/version : '(.+)',/) {
+		print "$1";
+	}
+}