diff --git a/mercurial/version.py b/mercurial/version.py
--- a/mercurial/version.py
+++ b/mercurial/version.py
@@ -18,10 +18,13 @@ import util
 unknown_version = 'unknown'
 remembered_version = False
 
-def get_version():
+def get_version(doreload=False):
     """Return version information if available."""
     try:
-        from mercurial.__version__ import version
+        import mercurial.__version__
+        if doreload:
+            reload(mercurial.__version__)
+        version = mercurial.__version__.version
     except ImportError:
         version = unknown_version
     return version
@@ -40,6 +43,8 @@ def write_version(version):
     f.write("# This file is auto-generated.\n")
     f.write("version = %r\n" % version)
     f.close()
+    # reload the file we've just written
+    get_version(True)
 
 def remember_version(version=None):
     """Store version information."""