diff --git a/src/msspec/version.py b/src/msspec/version.py
index 38f29be..9eb35c6 100644
--- a/src/msspec/version.py
+++ b/src/msspec/version.py
@@ -1,28 +1,31 @@
 # coding: utf-8
 # vim: set et sw=4 ts=4 sts=4 nu ai cc=+0 fdm=indent mouse=a:
 
+from setuptools_scm import get_version
 from pkg_resources import parse_version, DistributionNotFound, get_distribution
 from msspec.misc import LOGGER
 import os
 
+# find the version number
+# 1- Try to read it from the git info
+# 2- If it fails, try to read it from the VERSION file
+# 3- If it fails, try to read it from the distribution file
+
 try:
-    # try to find the version from egg info file
-    __version__ = get_distribution(__name__.strip('.version')).version
-except DistributionNotFound:
-    # otherwise try to get it from the SCM
+    v = get_version(root='../../', relative_to=__file__, version_scheme="post-release")
+    v = parse_version(v)
+    if v._version.post[-1] == 0:
+        __version__ = v.base_version
+    else:
+        __version__ = v.public
+except (LookupError, ImportError):
     try:
-        from setuptools_scm import get_version
-        v = get_version(root='../../', relative_to=__file__, version_scheme="post-release")
-        v = parse_version(v)
-        if v._version.post[-1] == 0:
-            __version__ = v.base_version
-        else:
-            __version__ = v.public
-    except (LookupError, ModuleNotFoundError):
-        # Ok, so there may be a VERSION file to look for it
+        f = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), "../VERSION")
+        with open(f, "r") as fd:
+            __version__ = fd.read().strip('\n ')
+    except:
         try:
-            f = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), "../VERSION")
-            with open(f, "r") as fd:
-                __version__ = fd.read().strip('\n ')
-        except:
+            __version__ = get_distribution(__name__.strip('.version')).version
+        except DistributionNotFound:
             LOGGER.error("Unable to get the version number!")
+