diff --git a/project/build.scala b/project/build.scala
index 82e6e13aa..61adf4122 100644
--- a/project/build.scala
+++ b/project/build.scala
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ object SbtExtras extends Build {
   // This build creates a SBT plugin with handy features *and* bundles the SBT script for distribution.
   val root = Project("sbt-packaging", file(".")) settings(Packaging.settings:_*) settings(
     sbtVersion <<= sbtVersion apply { v =>
-      sys.props.getOrElse("sbt.build.version", v)
+      sys.props.getOrElse("sbt.build.version", sys.env.getOrElse("sbt.build.version", v))
     }
   )