diff --git a/.github/workflows/build_and_release.yml b/.github/workflows/build_and_release.yml
index f81ff4b..f947208 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build_and_release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build_and_release.yml
@@ -23,10 +23,10 @@ jobs:
       # https://stackoverflow.com/a/64195658
     - name: Add SHORT_SHA env property with commit short sha
       run: echo "SHORT_SHA=`echo ${GITHUB_SHA} | cut -c1-7`" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-    - name: Inject version into src.__version__
-      run: echo "__version__ = '${{ env.SHORT_SHA }}'" > src/__init__.py
-    - name: build the sucker
-      run: make build
+    - name: Build the sucker
+      run: |
+        sed -i -e "s/?????/${{ env.SHORT_SHA }}/g" src/__init__.py
+        make build
     - uses: ncipollo/release-action@v1
       with:
         artifacts: "utils"
diff --git a/src/__init__.py b/src/__init__.py
index e69de29..506aa8f 100644
--- a/src/__init__.py
+++ b/src/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+__version__ = "?????"  # will be replaced during build by CI