diff --git a/defines_global.py b/defines_global.py
index 46ea0f61c3..82556493fb 100755
--- a/defines_global.py
+++ b/defines_global.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+import os
+
 # Do not mess with the default types (0-5). This is passed to the Object
 # model's 'choices' argument.
 OBJECT_TYPES = (
@@ -37,10 +39,12 @@ NOSET_ATTRIBS = ["MONEY", "ALIAS", "LASTPAGED", "__CHANLIST", "LAST",
 HIDDEN_ATTRIBS = ["__CHANLIST", "__PARENT"]
 
 # Server version number.
-REVISION = '$Rev$'
+REVISION = os.popen('svnversion .', 'r').readline().strip()
+if not REVISION:
+    REVISION = "UNKNOWN"
 
 # Clip out the SVN keyword information
-EVENNIA_VERSION = 'Alpha ' + REVISION[6:-2]
+EVENNIA_VERSION = 'Alpha ' + REVISION
 
 # The message to show when the user lacks permissions for something.
 NOPERMS_MSG = "You do not have the necessary permissions to do that."