diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 957a5ba..6a77f76 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -10,9 +10,9 @@ from setuptools import setup, find_packages
 def get_version():
     basedir = os.path.dirname(__file__)
     with open(os.path.join(basedir, 'rq/version.py')) as f:
-        VERSION = None
-        exec(f.read())
-        return VERSION
+        locals = {}
+        exec(f.read(), locals)
+        return locals['VERSION']
     raise RuntimeError('No version info found.')