diff --git a/pyemma/__init__.py b/pyemma/__init__.py
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/pyemma/__init__.py
+++ b/pyemma/__init__.py
@@ -22,6 +22,12 @@ PyEMMA - Emma's Markov Model Algorithms
 =======================================
 """
 from __future__ import absolute_import
+
+# set version from versioneer.
+from ._version import get_versions
+__version__ = get_versions()['version']
+del get_versions
+
 from .util import config
 
 from . import coordinates
@@ -30,10 +36,6 @@ from . import util
 from . import plots
 from . import thermo
 
-from ._version import get_versions
-__version__ = get_versions()['version']
-del get_versions
-
 
 def setup_package():
     # purpose is for nose testing only to silence progress bars etc.
[pyemma-init] set version first.