diff --git a/flake.nix b/flake.nix
index 8851bc3bf..f0e669f63 100644
--- a/flake.nix
+++ b/flake.nix
@@ -9,11 +9,11 @@
 
     let
 
-      version =
-        builtins.readFile ./.version
-        + (if officialRelease
-           then ""
-           else "pre${builtins.substring 0 8 self.lastModified}_${self.shortRev or "dirty"}");
+      version = builtins.readFile ./.version + versionSuffix;
+      versionSuffix =
+        if officialRelease
+        then ""
+        else "pre${builtins.substring 0 8 self.lastModified}_${self.shortRev or "dirty"}";
 
       officialRelease = false;
 
@@ -116,6 +116,8 @@
 
           src = self;
 
+          VERSION_SUFFIX = versionSuffix;
+
           outputs = [ "out" "dev" "doc" ];
 
           buildInputs = buildDeps;