diff --git a/src/PIL/__init__.py b/src/PIL/__init__.py
index e7f26488d..b73c9f18d 100644
--- a/src/PIL/__init__.py
+++ b/src/PIL/__init__.py
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ from . import _version
 # Use __version__ instead.
 __version__ = _version.__version__
 
+PILLOW_VERSION = __version__
+
 del _version