diff --git a/src/msspec/version.py b/src/msspec/version.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bc00e17
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/msspec/version.py
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+# This file is updated at package creation
+# DO NOT EDIT
+__version__ = ""