diff --git a/python/nwm_client_new/setup.cfg b/python/nwm_client_new/setup.cfg
index 55c7d6eb..7867c7b6 100644
--- a/python/nwm_client_new/setup.cfg
+++ b/python/nwm_client_new/setup.cfg
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [metadata]
 name = hydrotools.nwm_client_new
-version = 6.0.0b0
+version = attr: hydrotools.nwm_client_new._version.__version__
 author = Jason A. Regina
 author_email = jason.regina@noaa.gov
 description = Retrieve National Water Model data from various sources.
diff --git a/python/nwm_client_new/src/hydrotools/nwm_client_new/__init__.py b/python/nwm_client_new/src/hydrotools/nwm_client_new/__init__.py
index e69de29b..a1826172 100644
--- a/python/nwm_client_new/src/hydrotools/nwm_client_new/__init__.py
+++ b/python/nwm_client_new/src/hydrotools/nwm_client_new/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+# removing __version__ import will cause build to fail. see: https://github.com/pypa/setuptools/issues/1724#issuecomment-627241822
+from ._version import __version__
diff --git a/python/nwm_client_new/src/hydrotools/nwm_client_new/_version.py b/python/nwm_client_new/src/hydrotools/nwm_client_new/_version.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6edd89e9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/nwm_client_new/src/hydrotools/nwm_client_new/_version.py
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+__version__ = "6.0.0b0"