diff --git a/common.py b/common.py
index 8cb5335..42d5537 100644
--- a/common.py
+++ b/common.py
@@ -42,3 +42,18 @@ def logger(severity, message):
 #	if severity in sev:
 	args = (sys.argv[0], time.strftime('%Y-%m-%d.%H:%M:%S'), severity, message)
 	sys.stderr.write(e('%s %s %s: %s' % args) + '\n')
+
+def get_version_git():
+	import subprocess
+
+	cmd = ['git', 'log', '-n', '1', '--oneline', '--abbrev-commit']
+
+	p = subprocess.Popen(cmd, bufsize=1, stdout=subprocess.PIPE)
+	first_line = p.stdout.readline()
+
+	if 0 == p.wait():
+		return "version (Git) '%s'" % e(first_line.strip())
+	else:
+		return "(unknown version)"
+
+VERSION = get_version_git()
diff --git a/local_config.py.skel b/local_config.py.skel
index 670b7e1..1e8791c 100644
--- a/local_config.py.skel
+++ b/local_config.py.skel
@@ -18,9 +18,6 @@ config['hist_max_time'] = 10 * 60
 config['uptime'] = -time.time()
 config['request_counter'] = 0
 
-config['version'] = None
-
-
 # the "dice" feature will use more efficient random data (0) for given users
 config['enhanced-random-user'] = ( 'FIXME', 'FIXME' )
 
diff --git a/plugins.py b/plugins.py
index af6bc6a..fba4640 100644
--- a/plugins.py
+++ b/plugins.py
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ def command_version(args):
 
 	if 'version' in args['data']:
 		return {
-			'msg': args['reply_user'] + (''': I'm running ''' + conf('version'))
+			'msg': args['reply_user'] + (''': I'm running ''' + VERSION)
 		}
 
 def command_unicode(args):
diff --git a/urlbot.py b/urlbot.py
index b397dd7..9825a16 100755
--- a/urlbot.py
+++ b/urlbot.py
@@ -187,19 +187,6 @@ def parse_delete(filepath):
 		plugins.data_parse_other(content)
 		return
 
-def get_version_git():
-	import subprocess
-
-	cmd = ['git', 'log', '-n', '1', '--oneline', '--abbrev-commit']
-
-	p = subprocess.Popen(cmd, bufsize=1, stdout=subprocess.PIPE)
-	first_line = p.stdout.readline()
-
-	if 0 == p.wait():
-		return "version (Git) '%s'" % e(first_line.strip())
-	else:
-		return "(unknown version)"
-
 import plugins
 
 plugins.chat_write = chat_write
@@ -209,8 +196,7 @@ plugins.ratelimit_touch = ratelimit_touch
 plugins.register_all()
 
 if '__main__' == __name__:
-	set_conf('version', get_version_git())
-	print sys.argv[0] + ' ' + conf('version')
+	print sys.argv[0] + ' ' + VERSION
 
 	if not os.path.exists(fifo_path):
 		logger('error', 'fifo_path "%s" does not exist, exiting' % fifo_path)