diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index c45b51b..8f0a33f 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -24,7 +24,8 @@
 with open("README.md", "r") as fh:
     long_description = fh.read()
 
-from bbqr.version import __version__
+# get the version w/o importing anything other parts which might need requirements
+exec(open('bbqr/version.py').read())
 
 setup(
     name='bbqr',