diff --git a/django/__init__.py b/django/__init__.py
index 4430fec2c0..9dcb986397 100644
--- a/django/__init__.py
+++ b/django/__init__.py
@@ -1,12 +1,7 @@
+from django.utils.version import get_version
+
 VERSION = (1, 8, 0, 'alpha', 0)
 
-
-def get_version(*args, **kwargs):
-    # Avoid circular import
-    from django.utils.version import get_version
-    return get_version(*args, **kwargs)
-
-
 __version__ = get_version(VERSION)