diff --git a/backend/src/hatchling/version/source/env.py b/backend/src/hatchling/version/source/env.py
index b46389437..efdbc92e3 100644
--- a/backend/src/hatchling/version/source/env.py
+++ b/backend/src/hatchling/version/source/env.py
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ class EnvSource(VersionSourceInterface):
 
     def get_version_data(self) -> dict:
         variable = self.config.get('variable', '')
+        default_value = self.config.get('default-value', '')
+
         if not variable:
             message = 'option `variable` must be specified'
             raise ValueError(message)
@@ -18,11 +20,15 @@ def get_version_data(self) -> dict:
             message = 'option `variable` must be a string'
             raise TypeError(message)
 
-        if variable not in os.environ:
+        if default_value and not isinstance(default_value, str):
+            message = 'option `default-value` must be a string'
+            raise TypeError(message)
+
+        if variable not in os.environ and not default_value:
             message = f'environment variable `{variable}` is not set'
             raise RuntimeError(message)
 
-        return {'version': os.environ[variable]}
+        return {'version': os.getenv(variable, default_value)}
 
     def set_version(self, version: str, version_data: dict) -> None:  # noqa: ARG002, PLR6301
         message = 'Cannot set environment variables'
diff --git a/docs/plugins/version-source/env.md b/docs/plugins/version-source/env.md
index 125b23104..d6c27c08d 100644
--- a/docs/plugins/version-source/env.md
+++ b/docs/plugins/version-source/env.md
@@ -22,3 +22,4 @@ source = "env"
 | Option | Description |
 | --- | --- |
 | `variable` (required) | The name of the environment variable |
+| `default-value` | The value to use if the environment variable is not set |
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/backend/version/source/test_env.py b/tests/backend/version/source/test_env.py
index 3e8d74847..3eab34460 100644
--- a/tests/backend/version/source/test_env.py
+++ b/tests/backend/version/source/test_env.py
@@ -18,6 +18,13 @@ def test_variable_not_string(isolation):
         source.get_version_data()
 
 
+def test_default_value_not_string(isolation):
+    source = EnvSource(str(isolation), {'variable': 'ENV_VERSION', 'default-value': 1})
+
+    with pytest.raises(TypeError, match='option `default-value` must be a string'):
+        source.get_version_data()
+
+
 def test_variable_not_available(isolation):
     source = EnvSource(str(isolation), {'variable': 'ENV_VERSION'})
 
@@ -27,6 +34,13 @@ def test_variable_not_available(isolation):
         source.get_version_data()
 
 
+def test_variable_not_available_with_default_value(isolation):
+    source = EnvSource(str(isolation), {'variable': 'ENV_VERSION', 'default-value': '0.0.1'})
+
+    with EnvVars(exclude=['ENV_VERSION']):
+        assert source.get_version_data()['version'] == '0.0.1'
+
+
 def test_variable_contains_version(isolation):
     source = EnvSource(str(isolation), {'variable': 'ENV_VERSION'})