diff --git a/cobra/__init__.py b/cobra/__init__.py
index 093b6c2a3..42e3843ca 100644
--- a/cobra/__init__.py
+++ b/cobra/__init__.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import sys
+__version__ = '0.1.0.b1'
 if hasattr(sys, 'JYTHON_JAR'):
     raise Exception("Experimental modules of numpy/scipy for java that are" +\
     "not yet ready for prime time.")