diff --git a/scripts/projects.py b/scripts/projects.py
index c1d113d5..2bfe6d43 100644
--- a/scripts/projects.py
+++ b/scripts/projects.py
@@ -388,13 +388,23 @@ def get_value(name, section, key):
         proj_root = topdir
     else:
         proj_root = projs_root + '/' + name
-
     debug("proj_root = " + proj_root)
+
     if section == 'version':
-        file = open(proj_root + '/VERSION', 'r')
-        r=file.read().replace('\n', '').replace('-dev', '')
-        file.close()
-        return r
+        proj_version_dirs = [ proj_root ]
+        if proj_root != topdir:
+            proj_version_dirs.append('/usr/share/doc/packages/' + name)
+        for d in proj_version_dirs:
+            version_path = d + '/VERSION'
+            try:
+                with open(version_path) as fd:
+                    r = fd.read().replace('\n', '').replace('-dev', '')
+                    fd.close()
+                    return r
+            except EnvironmentError:
+                debug("ignoring unreadable file " + version_path)
+                continue
+        raise Exception("No version file found for project \"" + name + "\"")
 
     path = proj_root + '/make/project.conf'
     #print('path = ', path, 'top_name = ', top_name, 'name = ', name)