diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index a3bf3967..1885de16 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -111,17 +111,9 @@ BUILT_SOURCES += ratbagd.service dbus/org.freedesktop.ratbag1.service
 
 # ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # python module
-dist_pkgpython_DATA = \
-		      python/ratbagd/__init__.py
+dist_pkgpython_DATA = python/ratbagd/__init__.py
+bin_SCRIPTS = python/ratbagctl
 
-bin_SCRIPTS = \
-	      python/ratbagctl
-
-python/ratbagctl: python/ratbagctl.py
-	$(AM_V_GEN)$(MKDIR_P) python
-	$(AM_V_GEN)$(SED) -e "s/@version@/$(PACKAGE_VERSION)/" < $^ > $@
-
-EXTRA_DIST += python/ratbagctl.py
-BUILT_SOURCES += python/ratbagctl
+EXTRA_DIST += python/ratbagctl.in
 
 dist_man1_MANS += doc/ratbagctl.1
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index b29fab10..2409f931 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -144,7 +144,8 @@ AC_SUBST(DBUS_SYSTEM_CONFIG_DIR)
 # ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # report
 
-AC_CONFIG_FILES([Makefile])
+AC_CONFIG_FILES([Makefile
+		 python/ratbagctl])
 
 AC_OUTPUT
 AC_MSG_RESULT([
diff --git a/python/ratbagctl.py b/python/ratbagctl.in
old mode 100755
new mode 100644
similarity index 100%
rename from python/ratbagctl.py
rename to python/ratbagctl.in