diff --git a/python/setup.py b/python/setup.py
index 9a328cb51c..1a282f993b 100755
--- a/python/setup.py
+++ b/python/setup.py
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ def GetVersion():
 
   with open(os.path.join('google', 'protobuf', '__init__.py')) as version_file:
     exec(version_file.read(), globals())
+    global __version__
     return __version__