diff --git a/lib/couchrest/model.rb b/lib/couchrest/model.rb
index b55c54f..693b3e3 100644
--- a/lib/couchrest/model.rb
+++ b/lib/couchrest/model.rb
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ module CouchRest
 
   module Model
 
-    VERSION = "1.0.0.beta9"
+    VERSION = File.read(File.expand_path('../../../VERSION', __FILE__)).strip
 
   end