diff --git a/backend/Makefile b/backend/Makefile
index 7f1998c..ffda7a4 100644
--- a/backend/Makefile
+++ b/backend/Makefile
@@ -27,14 +27,17 @@ else
   TARGET=linux
 endif
 
+
+LDFLAGS=-ldflags="-X main.version=$(APP_VERSION)"
+
 all: $(TARGET)
 	@echo "Built $(VERSION) @ $(TARGET)"
 
 osx:
-	GOARCH=$(ARCH) GOOS=darwin go build -o $(PROG)-osx-$(ARCH)
+	GOARCH=$(ARCH) GOOS=darwin go build $(LDFLAGS) -o $(PROG)-osx-$(ARCH)
 
 linux:
-	GOARCH=$(ARCH) GOOS=linux go build -o $(PROG)-linux-$(ARCH)
+	GOARCH=$(ARCH) GOOS=linux go build $(LDFLAGS) -o $(PROG)-linux-$(ARCH)
 
 
 build_server:
diff --git a/backend/status.go b/backend/status.go
index 8f34129..1df408d 100644
--- a/backend/status.go
+++ b/backend/status.go
@@ -1,10 +1,8 @@
 package main
 
-import (
-	"strings"
+import ()
 
-	"github.com/GeertJohan/go.rice"
-)
+var version = "unknown"
 
 // Gather application status information
 type AppStatus struct {
@@ -15,20 +13,7 @@ type AppStatus struct {
 // on backends.
 func NewAppStatus() (*AppStatus, error) {
 	status := &AppStatus{
-		Version: statusGetVersion(),
+		Version: version,
 	}
 	return status, nil
 }
-
-// Get application version
-func statusGetVersion() string {
-	meta, err := rice.FindBox("../")
-	if err != nil {
-		return "unknown"
-	}
-	version, err := meta.String("VERSION")
-	if err != nil {
-		return "unknown"
-	}
-	return strings.Trim(version, "\n")
-}