diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 766bf012f..c50fab176 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 project(
 	'sway',
 	'c',
+	version: '1.0',
 	license: 'MIT',
 	meson_version: '>=0.48.0',
 	default_options: [
@@ -127,17 +128,12 @@ endif
 
 add_project_arguments('-DSYSCONFDIR="/@0@"'.format(join_paths(prefix, sysconfdir)), language : 'c')
 
-version = get_option('sway-version')
-if version != ''
-	version = '"@0@"'.format(version)
-else
-	if not git.found()
-		error('git is required to make the version string')
-	endif
-
+if git.found()
 	git_commit_hash = run_command([git.path(), 'describe', '--always', '--tags']).stdout().strip()
 	git_branch = run_command([git.path(), 'rev-parse', '--abbrev-ref', 'HEAD']).stdout().strip()
 	version = '"@0@ (" __DATE__ ", branch \'@1@\')"'.format(git_commit_hash, git_branch)
+else
+	version = '"@0@"'.format(meson.project_version())
 endif
 add_project_arguments('-DSWAY_VERSION=@0@'.format(version), language: 'c')
 
diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
index 04b29e17a..d3667acfd 100644
--- a/meson_options.txt
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-option('sway-version', type : 'string', description: 'The version string reported in `sway --version`.')
 option('default-wallpaper', type: 'boolean', value: true, description: 'Install the default wallpaper.')
 option('zsh-completions', type: 'boolean', value: true, description: 'Install zsh shell completions.')
 option('bash-completions', type: 'boolean', value: true, description: 'Install bash shell completions.')