diff --git a/artiq/_version.py b/artiq/_version.py
index bf9797c9d..36de51339 100644
--- a/artiq/_version.py
+++ b/artiq/_version.py
@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
 import os
 
+def get_rev():
+    return "unknown"
+
 def get_version():
     return os.getenv("VERSIONEER_OVERRIDE", default="8.0+unknown.beta")