diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 2482287..919c071 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ default: debian/tyto.deb
 
 ### MAKE DEB
 
-.INTERMEDIATE: debian/debian-binary debian/control.tar.gz debian/data.tar.gz
+.INTERMEDIATE: debian/control debian/debian-binary debian/control.tar.gz debian/data.tar.gz
 
 .PHONY: clean
 
@@ -20,7 +20,10 @@ debian/tyto.deb: debian/debian-binary debian/control.tar.gz debian/data.tar.gz
 debian/data.tar.gz:
 	cd src && tar czvf ../debian/data.tar.gz usr var
 
-debian/control.tar.gz:
+debian/control: debian/control_template
+	cat $< | sed "s/VERSION/`git describe --tags`/g" > $@
+
+debian/control.tar.gz: debian/control
 	tar czvf debian/control.tar.gz debian/control #preinst postinst prerm postrm
 
 debian/debian-binary:
diff --git a/debian/control b/debian/control_template
similarity index 96%
rename from debian/control
rename to debian/control_template
index bbce87f..1bb3ec9 100644
--- a/debian/control
+++ b/debian/control_template
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 Package: tyto
-Version: 1.11.5
+Version: VERSION
 Section: custom
 Priority: optional
 Architecture: all