diff --git a/carbonplan_data/__init__.py b/carbonplan_data/__init__.py
index b3a789a..f66cd85 100644
--- a/carbonplan_data/__init__.py
+++ b/carbonplan_data/__init__.py
@@ -8,11 +8,11 @@
 import intake
 
 try:
-    __version__ = _version(__name__)
+    version = _version(__name__)
 except _PackageNotFoundError:
     # package is not installed
-    __version__ = "unknown"
-
+    version = "unknown"
+__version__ = version
 
 CATALOG_DIR_PATH = pathlib.Path(__file__)
 MASTER_CATALOG_PATH = str(CATALOG_DIR_PATH.parent / "catalogs/master.yaml")