diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index a3a45188..59e5bd42 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -8,4 +8,6 @@ venv/
 *.egg-info/
 *.swp
 build/
+dist/
 .local/
+version.py
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 3f4f9c4f..b37af254 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -6,3 +6,21 @@ py = import('python').find_installation(pure: false)
 libzz = dependency('zz', version: '>= 0.7.0')
 py.extension_module('gmp', ['fmt.c', 'gmp.c', 'utils.c'],
                     install: true, dependencies: libzz)
+install_dir = py.get_install_dir()
+
+# Generate version.py for sdist
+meson.add_dist_script(['scripts/gitversion.py', '--meson-dist',
+                       '--write', '_version.py'])
+fs = import('fs')
+if not fs.exists('_version.py')
+  generate_version = custom_target('generate-version',
+                                   install: true,
+                                   build_always_stale: true,
+                                   build_by_default: true,
+                                   output: '_version.py',
+                                   input: 'scripts/gitversion.py',
+                                   command: [py, '@INPUT@', '--write',
+                                             '@OUTPUT@'],
+                                   install_dir: install_dir,
+                                   install_tag: 'python-runtime')
+endif
diff --git a/scripts/gitversion.py b/scripts/gitversion.py
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index edafffa5..6dac5ce3
--- a/scripts/gitversion.py
+++ b/scripts/gitversion.py
@@ -1,39 +1,69 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python3
+
+import argparse
 import os
 import re
 import subprocess
+import sys
 
 
 def git_version():
-    # Append last commit date and hash to dev version information,
-    # if available
-    return version, git_hash
-
+    p = subprocess.Popen(["git", "describe"],
+                         stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
+                         stderr=subprocess.PIPE,
+                         cwd=os.path.dirname(__file__))
+    out, err = p.communicate()
+    if p.returncode:
+        raise RuntimeError("Non-zero return code from git-describe: "
+                           f"{p.returncode}")
+    out = out.decode("ascii").removesuffix("\n")
 
-if __name__ == "__main__":
-    try:
-        p = subprocess.Popen(["git", "describe"],
-                             stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
-                             stderr=subprocess.PIPE,
-                             cwd=os.path.dirname(__file__))
-    except FileNotFoundError:
-        exit(1)
+    version, *other = out.removesuffix("\n").split("-")
+    if other:
+        g, h = other
+        m = re.match("(.*)([0-9]+)", version)
+        version = m[1] + str(int(m[2])+1) + ".dev" + g
+        git_hash = h
     else:
-        out, err = p.communicate()
-        if p.returncode:
-            exit(p.returncode)
-        out = out.decode("ascii").removesuffix("\n")
-
-        version, *other = out.removesuffix("\n").split("-")
-        if other:
-            g, h = other
-            m = re.match("(.*)([0-9]+)", version)
-            version = m[1] + str(int(m[2])+1) + ".dev" + g
-            git_hash = h
-        else:
-            git_hash = ""
+        git_hash = ""
 
     if git_hash:
         version += "+" + git_hash
-    print(version)
-    exit(0)
+    return version
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
+    parser.add_argument("--write", help="Save version to this file")
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--meson-dist",
+        help="Output path is relative to MESON_DIST_ROOT",
+        action="store_true"
+    )
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+
+    try:
+        version = git_version()
+    except (FileNotFoundError, RuntimeError):
+        sys.path.insert(0, os.getcwd())
+        from _version import version
+
+    if args.write:
+        template = f'version = "{version}"'
+        outfile = args.write
+        if args.meson_dist:
+            outfile = os.path.join(
+                os.environ.get("MESON_DIST_ROOT", ""),
+                outfile
+            )
+
+        # Print human readable output path
+        relpath = os.path.relpath(outfile)
+        if relpath.startswith("."):
+            relpath = outfile
+
+        with open(outfile, "w") as f:
+            print(f"Saving version to {relpath}")
+            f.write(template)
+    else:
+        print(version)
diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index 838918b9..f59aa7cd 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ def pytest_report_header(config):
   Bits per digit    :      {gmp.mpz_info.bits_per_digit}
   sizeof(zz_digit_t):      {gmp.mpz_info.sizeof_digit}
   Maximal bit count :      {gmp.mpz_info.bitcnt_max}
+
+  The gmp module v{gmp.__version__}
 """)