diff --git a/bluepyopt/__init__.py b/bluepyopt/__init__.py
index f8544b28..075e646e 100644
--- a/bluepyopt/__init__.py
+++ b/bluepyopt/__init__.py
@@ -20,6 +20,10 @@
 """
 
 # pylint: disable=W0611
+import setuptools_scm
+
+__version__ = setuptools_scm.get_version()
+
 from . import tools  # NOQA
 
 from .api import *  # NOQA
diff --git a/bluepyopt/ephys/create_hoc.py b/bluepyopt/ephys/create_hoc.py
index 386056e0..b1a340c1 100644
--- a/bluepyopt/ephys/create_hoc.py
+++ b/bluepyopt/ephys/create_hoc.py
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@
 
 import os
 import re
-import setuptools_scm
 
 from collections import defaultdict, namedtuple, OrderedDict
 from datetime import datetime
@@ -285,7 +284,7 @@ def _get_template_params(
 
     if not disable_banner:
         banner = 'Created by BluePyOpt(%s) at %s' % (
-            setuptools_scm.get_version(), datetime.now())
+            bluepyopt.__version__, datetime.now())
     else:
         banner = None