diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 33e7748..29a41be 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
+VERSION=`< VERSION`
+
 bump:
 	pip show jaynes | grep Version | sed 's/Version:\ //g' > VERSION
 	git add VERSION
 	git ci -m "bump version"
 release:
-	git tag v$(`< VERSION`)
+	git tag v$$VERSION
 	git push origin --tags