diff --git a/pre_commit/clientlib/validate_base.py b/pre_commit/clientlib/validate_base.py
index e51b21fb..43b1f3f8 100644
--- a/pre_commit/clientlib/validate_base.py
+++ b/pre_commit/clientlib/validate_base.py
@@ -7,9 +7,9 @@ import re
 
 import jsonschema
 import jsonschema.exceptions
-import pkg_resources
 import yaml
 
+import pre_commit.constants as C
 from pre_commit import output
 from pre_commit.jsonschema_extensions import apply_defaults
 
@@ -72,11 +72,7 @@ def get_run_function(filenames_help, validate_strategy, exception_cls):
         parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
         parser.add_argument('filenames', nargs='*', help=filenames_help)
         parser.add_argument(
-            '-V', '--version',
-            action='version',
-            version='%(prog)s {}'.format(
-                pkg_resources.get_distribution('pre-commit').version
-            )
+            '-V', '--version', action='version', version=C.VERSION,
         )
 
         args = parser.parse_args(argv)
diff --git a/tests/repository_test.py b/tests/repository_test.py
index bfe4517b..653b1a10 100644
--- a/tests/repository_test.py
+++ b/tests/repository_test.py
@@ -8,10 +8,9 @@ import re
 import shutil
 
 import mock
-import pkg_resources
 import pytest
 
-from pre_commit import constants as C
+import pre_commit.constants as C
 from pre_commit import five
 from pre_commit import parse_shebang
 from pre_commit.clientlib.validate_manifest import load_manifest
@@ -721,10 +720,7 @@ def test_too_new_version(tempdir_factory, store, fake_log_handler):
     )
 
 
-@pytest.mark.parametrize(
-    'version',
-    ('0.1.0', pkg_resources.get_distribution('pre-commit').version),
-)
+@pytest.mark.parametrize('version', ('0.1.0', C.VERSION))
 def test_versions_ok(tempdir_factory, store, version):
     path = make_repo(tempdir_factory, 'script_hooks_repo')
     with modify_manifest(path) as manifest: