diff --git a/artiq/_version.py b/artiq/_version.py
index 36de51339..56f8614c9 100644
--- a/artiq/_version.py
+++ b/artiq/_version.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import os
 
 def get_rev():
-    return "unknown"
+    return os.getenv("VERSIONEER_REV", default="unknown")
 
 def get_version():
     return os.getenv("VERSIONEER_OVERRIDE", default="8.0+unknown.beta")