diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 8e4c766b..ac7e85c6 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -64,6 +64,11 @@ set(VERSION_MAJOR 1)
 set(VERSION_API 0)
 set(VERSION_ABI 0)
 set(VERSION_PATCH 0)
+execute_process(COMMAND bash -c "git describe --abbrev=0 --tags | cut -f 3 -d ." OUTPUT_VARIABLE VERSION_PATCH ERROR_VARIABLE VERSION_ERROR OUTPUT_STRIP_TRAILING_WHITESPACE)
+if(VERSION_ERROR)
+  message(FATAL_ERROR "cannot determine version")
+endif()
+
 
 cmake_policy(SET CMP0011 NEW)