diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 230eaac..4fe900c 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -38,5 +38,5 @@ foreach dep : dep_names
 endforeach
 
 # compile the main project
-executable('luppp', luppp_src,
+executable('luppp', luppp_src + [version_hxx],
     dependencies: deps)
diff --git a/src/meson.build b/src/meson.build
index 7e02ce8..d350343 100644
--- a/src/meson.build
+++ b/src/meson.build
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+version_hxx = vcs_tag(
+    input  : 'version.hxx.in',
+    output : 'version.hxx')
+
 luppp_src = files(
   'audiobuffer.cxx',
   'controllerupdater.cxx',
diff --git a/src/version.hxx.in b/src/version.hxx.in
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9f82d90
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/version.hxx.in
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+#define GIT_VERSION "@VCS_TAG@"