diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index f8fa410..87bed96 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -20,3 +20,5 @@ missing
 stamp-h1
 
 osmo-sip-connector
+.tarball-version
+.version
diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index abb1d66..5a2c4a9 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@ SUBDIRS = src tests
 
 BUILT_SOURCES = $(top_srcdir)/.version
 EXTRA_DIST = git-version-gen osmoappdesc.py .version
+
+@RELMAKE@
+
 $(top_srcdir)/.version:
 	echo $(VERSION) > $@-t && mv $@-t $@
 dist-hook:
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 1fa6157..35a75b9 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -14,6 +14,10 @@ if test "x$PKG_CONFIG_INSTALLED" = "xno"; then
 fi
 PKG_PROG_PKG_CONFIG([0.20])
 
+dnl include release helper
+RELMAKE='-include osmo-release.mk'
+AC_SUBST([RELMAKE])
+
 dnl kernel style compile messages
 m4_ifdef([AM_SILENT_RULES], [AM_SILENT_RULES([yes])])
 AC_PROG_CC