diff --git a/src/nwbinspector/version/__init__.py b/src/nwbinspector/version/__init__.py
index 3127748f2..ba6d8d0b1 100644
--- a/src/nwbinspector/version/__init__.py
+++ b/src/nwbinspector/version/__init__.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+import importlib.metadata
+
 import warnings
 
 message = (
@@ -9,4 +11,4 @@
 
 # Still keep imports functional with warning for soft deprecation cycle
 # TODO: remove after 9/15/2024
-from .._version import __version__
+__version__ = importlib.metadata.version(distribution_name="nwbinspector")