diff --git a/bin/gtdb_release_tk b/bin/gtdb_release_tk
index efad845..f9ceb20 100755
--- a/bin/gtdb_release_tk
+++ b/bin/gtdb_release_tk
@@ -30,20 +30,12 @@ import sys
 
 sys.path.append(os.path.abspath(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), '..')))
 
-
 from gtdb_release_tk.main import OptionsParser
-
+from gtdb_release_tk import version
 from biolib.logger import logger_setup
 from biolib.misc.custom_help_formatter import CustomHelpFormatter
 
 
-def version():
-    """Read program version from file."""
-    import gtdb_release_tk
-    version_file = open(os.path.join(gtdb_release_tk.__path__[0], 'VERSION'))
-    return version_file.readline().strip()
-
-
 def print_help():
     """Help menu."""
 
diff --git a/gtdb_release_tk/__init__.py b/gtdb_release_tk/__init__.py
index e69de29..e914db8 100644
--- a/gtdb_release_tk/__init__.py
+++ b/gtdb_release_tk/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+###############################################################################
+#                                                                             #
+#    This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify     #
+#    it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by     #
+#    the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or        #
+#    (at your option) any later version.                                      #
+#                                                                             #
+#    This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,          #
+#    but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of           #
+#    MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the            #
+#    GNU General Public License for more details.                             #
+#                                                                             #
+#    You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License        #
+#    along with this program. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.     #
+#                                                                             #
+###############################################################################
+
+import os
+
+
+def version():
+    """Read program version from file.
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    str
+        The current version number (e.g. 0.2.2).
+    """
+    with open(os.path.join(__path__[0], 'VERSION'), 'r') as f:
+        return f.readline().strip()