diff --git a/Makefile.gen b/Makefile.gen
index c9de86e..2fdf23f 100644
--- a/Makefile.gen
+++ b/Makefile.gen
@@ -24,10 +24,15 @@
 ifneq (,$(wildcard ../.git))
 RELEASE=git-$(shell git rev-parse --short=16 HEAD)
 else
+ifneq (,$(shell cat ../VERSION))
+RELEASE="$(USER)@$(HOSTNAME) release $(shell cat ../VERSION)"
+export DRIVER_NAME=HEAD
+else
 RELEASE="$(USER)@$(HOSTNAME)(private build)"
 export DRIVER_NAME=HEAD
 endif
 endif
+endif
 
 
 DRVDATE=$(shell date +%Y-%h%d)
diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..69c4d10
--- /dev/null
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+20131209