diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 404ce6a..20c72c1 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -181,3 +181,6 @@ hugo/binaries/*
 
 # Hugo builder cache
 hugo_cache/
+
+# Hugo version file
+hugo/VERSION
diff --git a/hugo/cli.py b/hugo/cli.py
index 61c344a..5730bcd 100644
--- a/hugo/cli.py
+++ b/hugo/cli.py
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@
 from sys import argv
 from sys import platform as sysplatform
 
-HUGO_VERSION = "0.124.1"
+with open(path.join(path.dirname(__file__), "VERSION")) as f:  # noqa: PTH123, PTH120, PTH118
+    HUGO_VERSION = f.read().strip()
 
 FILE_EXT = ".exe" if sysplatform == "win32" else ""
 
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 96fe146..aa4aede 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@
 from setuptools.command.build_py import build_py
 from wheel.bdist_wheel import bdist_wheel
 
-# Has to be kept in sync with the version in hugo/cli.py
 HUGO_VERSION = "0.124.1"
 HUGO_RELEASE = (
     f"https://github.com/gohugoio/hugo/archive/refs/tags/v{HUGO_VERSION}.tar.gz"
@@ -66,7 +65,7 @@ def finalize_options(self) -> None:
 
     def run(self) -> None:
         """Write the version of Hugo being built to hugo/VERSION."""
-        with Path.open("hugo/VERSION", "w") as version_file:
+        with open("hugo/VERSION", "w") as version_file:  # noqa: PTH123
             version_file.write(HUGO_VERSION)
             version_file.write("\n")
 
@@ -356,6 +355,7 @@ def run(self):
         )
     ],
     cmdclass={
+        "build_py": HugoWriter,
         "build_ext": HugoBuilder,
         "clean": Cleaner,
         "bdist_wheel": HugoWheel,