diff --git a/autotest/conftest.py b/autotest/conftest.py
index 5df2876..1a11328 100644
--- a/autotest/conftest.py
+++ b/autotest/conftest.py
@@ -15,17 +15,6 @@
 
 
 # misc utilities
-@contextlib.contextmanager
-def working_directory(path):
-    """Changes working directory and returns to previous on exit."""
-    prev_cwd = os.getcwd()
-    os.chdir(path)
-    try:
-        yield
-    finally:
-        os.chdir(prev_cwd)
-
-
 def get_pymake_appdir():
     appdir = Path.home() / ".pymake"
     appdir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
diff --git a/autotest/test_build.py b/autotest/test_build.py
index 0ad21aa..5b6e2d6 100644
--- a/autotest/test_build.py
+++ b/autotest/test_build.py
@@ -4,9 +4,9 @@
 
 import pytest
 from flaky import flaky
+from modflow_devtools.misc import set_dir
 
 import pymake
-from autotest.conftest import working_directory
 
 RERUNS = 3
 
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 
 def build_with_makefile(target, path, fc):
     success = True
-    with working_directory(path):
+    with set_dir(path):
         if os.path.isfile("makefile"):
             # wait to delete on windows
             if sys.platform.lower() == "win32":
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ def build_with_makefile(target, path, fc):
 @flaky(max_runs=RERUNS)
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("target", targets)
 def test_build(function_tmpdir, target: str) -> None:
-    with working_directory(function_tmpdir):
+    with set_dir(function_tmpdir):
         assert (
             pymake.build_apps(
                 target,
@@ -68,10 +68,10 @@ def test_build(function_tmpdir, target: str) -> None:
 
 @pytest.mark.base
 @flaky(max_runs=RERUNS)
-#@pytest.mark.skipif(sys.platform == "win32", reason="do not run on Windows")
+# @pytest.mark.skipif(sys.platform == "win32", reason="do not run on Windows")
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("target", targets)
 def test_meson_build(function_tmpdir, target: str) -> None:
-    with working_directory(function_tmpdir):
+    with set_dir(function_tmpdir):
         assert (
             pymake.build_apps(
                 target,
diff --git a/pymake/utils/_meson_build.py b/pymake/utils/_meson_build.py
index f8c7ea2..a2e1fae 100644
--- a/pymake/utils/_meson_build.py
+++ b/pymake/utils/_meson_build.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
     _get_prepend,
 )
 from ._file_utils import _get_extrafiles_common_path
+from .usgsprograms import usgs_program_data
 
 
 @contextmanager
@@ -35,6 +36,7 @@ def _set_directory(path: Path):
     """
     origin = Path().absolute()
     try:
+        Path(path).mkdir(exist_ok=True, parents=True)
         os.chdir(path)
         yield
     finally:
@@ -72,8 +74,8 @@ def meson_build(
         return code
 
     """
-    meson_test_path = os.path.join(mesondir, "meson.build")
-    if os.path.isfile(meson_test_path):
+    meson_test_path = Path(mesondir) / "meson.build"
+    if meson_test_path.is_file():
         # setup meson
         returncode = meson_setup(mesondir, fc=fc, cc=cc, appdir=appdir)
         # build and install executable(s) using meson
@@ -433,6 +435,12 @@ def _create_main_meson_build(
     appdir = os.path.relpath(os.path.dirname(target), mesondir)
     target = os.path.splitext((os.path.basename(target)))[0]
 
+    # get target version number
+    try:
+        target_version = usgs_program_data.get_version(target)
+    except:
+        target_version = None
+
     # get main program file from list of source files
     mainfile = _get_main(srcfiles)
 
@@ -520,11 +528,13 @@ def _create_main_meson_build(
     )
     optlevel_int = int(optlevel.replace("-O", "").replace("/O", ""))
 
-    main_meson_file = os.path.join(mesondir, "meson.build")
+    main_meson_file = Path(mesondir) / "meson.build"
     with open(main_meson_file, "w") as f:
         line = f"project(\n\t'{target}',\n"
         for language in languages:
             line += f"\t'{language}',\n"
+        if target_version is not None:
+            line += f"\tversion: '{target_version}',\n"
         line += "\tmeson_version: '>= 1.1.0',\n"
         line += "\tdefault_options: [\n\t\t'b_vscrt=static_from_buildtype',\n"
         line += f"\t\t'optimization={optlevel_int}',\n"
@@ -667,4 +677,4 @@ def _create_source_meson_build(source_path_dict, srcfiles):
             for temp in pop_list:
                 srcfiles_copy.remove(temp)
 
-    return
\ No newline at end of file
+    return