diff --git a/alot/__init__.py b/alot/__init__.py
index 942b28aa2..6540541e6 100644
--- a/alot/__init__.py
+++ b/alot/__init__.py
@@ -1,8 +1,17 @@
+from importlib.metadata import version, PackageNotFoundError
+
+# this requires python >=3.8
+try:
+    __version__ = version("alot")
+except PackageNotFoundError:
+    # package is not installed
+    pass
+
+
 __productname__ = 'alot'
-__version__ = '0.10'
-__copyright__ = "Copyright (C) 2012-21 Patrick Totzke"
-__author__ = "Patrick Totzke"
-__author_email__ = "patricktotzke@gmail.com"
+# -__copyright__ = "Copyright (C) 2012-21 Patrick Totzke"
+# __author__ = "Patrick Totzke"
+# __author_email__ = "patricktotzke@gmail.com"
 __description__ = "Terminal MUA using notmuch mail"
-__url__ = "https://github.com/pazz/alot"
-__license__ = "Licensed under the GNU GPL v3+."
+# __url__ = "https://github.com/pazz/alot"
+# __license__ = "Licensed under the GNU GPL v3+."