diff --git a/backend/main.py b/backend/main.py
index 5284838..2046f9f 100644
--- a/backend/main.py
+++ b/backend/main.py
@@ -136,8 +136,9 @@ async def metrics():
 
 @app.get("/api/version")
 async def version():
-    version_file = Path(__file__).parent.parent / "VERSION"
-    return {"version": version_file.read_text().strip() if version_file.exists() else "unknown"}
+    import os
+
+    return {"version": os.environ.get("VERSION", "unknown")}
 
 
 frontend_dir = Path(__file__).parent / "frontend"
diff --git a/docker-compose.prod.yml b/docker-compose.prod.yml
index 4a65383..d6f332e 100644
--- a/docker-compose.prod.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.prod.yml
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ services:
     env_file:
       - .env
     environment:
+      VERSION: ${AOC_VERSION:-latest}
       MONGO_URI: mongodb://${MONGO_ROOT_USERNAME}:${MONGO_ROOT_PASSWORD}@mongo:27017/
     depends_on:
       mongo:
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 3ecde35..ca58875 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ services:
     env_file:
       - .env
     environment:
+      VERSION: ${AOC_VERSION:-dev}
       MONGO_URI: mongodb://${MONGO_ROOT_USERNAME}:${MONGO_ROOT_PASSWORD}@mongo:${MONGO_PORT}/
     depends_on:
       - mongo