diff --git a/kernel-module/gen-rtpengine-kmod-flags b/kernel-module/gen-rtpengine-kmod-flags
index 0dee170f1..e7e903f57 100755
--- a/kernel-module/gen-rtpengine-kmod-flags
+++ b/kernel-module/gen-rtpengine-kmod-flags
@@ -4,6 +4,10 @@ if [ -z "${M}" ]; then
   M=$(pwd)
 fi
 
+if [ -z "${RTPENGINE_VERSION}" ] && [ -f .release-version ]; then
+  RTPENGINE_VERSION=$(<.release-version)
+fi
+
 if [ -z "${RTPENGINE_VERSION}" ]; then
   have_dpkg_parsechangelog=no
   if command -v dpkg-parsechangelog >/dev/null; then