diff --git a/tools/lib/lib.sh b/tools/lib/lib.sh
index c2f9ddcab40..a593da25a19 100755
--- a/tools/lib/lib.sh
+++ b/tools/lib/lib.sh
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ get_connector_version() {
   _get_docker_image_version "$dockerfile"
 }
 
-VERSION=$(cat .version | grep "^VERSION=" | cut -d = -f 2); export VERSION
+VERSION=${VERSION:-dev}; export VERSION
 SCRIPT_DIRECTORY=$(_script_directory); export SCRIPT_DIRECTORY
 
 DOT_AIRBYTE_ROOT=${DOT_AIRBYTE_ROOT:=~/.airbyte}