diff --git a/CHANGELOG b/CHANGELOG
index e7646d8..e6df35c 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG
+++ b/CHANGELOG
@@ -2,6 +2,10 @@ vX.X.X (unreleased)
 ===================
   * Placeholder for next release
 
+v1.4.2 (2017-10-30)
+===================
+  * Remove VERSION file and hardcode it directly in the script.
+
 v1.4.1 (2017-10-04)
 ===================
   * Show program versions in output.
diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
deleted file mode 100644
index 66d62a8..0000000
--- a/VERSION
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-v1.4.1
diff --git a/duplicity-backup.sh b/duplicity-backup.sh
index 739fab3..a99ab06 100755
--- a/duplicity-backup.sh
+++ b/duplicity-backup.sh
@@ -45,6 +45,8 @@ CONFIG="duplicity-backup.conf"
 # Script Happens Below This Line - Shouldn't Require Editing #
 ##############################################################
 
+DBSH_VERSION="v1.4.2"
+
 # make a backup of stdout and stderr for later
 exec 6>&1
 exec 7>&2
@@ -130,19 +132,6 @@ version_compare() {
 version_compare "${DUPLICITY_VERSION}" 0.7
 case $? in 2) LT07=1;; *) LT07=0;; esac
 
-# Read the version string from the file named VERSION in the same directory as the script.
-if [[ "$(uname)" == "Darwin" ]]; then
-  DBSH_VERPATH="$(dirname "$(readlink "$0")")/VERSION"
-else
-  DBSH_VERPATH="$(dirname "$(readlink -f "$0")")/VERSION"
-fi
-
-if [ -r "${DBSH_VERPATH}" ]; then
-  DBSH_VERSION=$(<"${DBSH_VERPATH}")
-else
-  DBSH_VERSION=unknown
-fi
-
 version(){
   echo "duplicity-backup.sh ${DBSH_VERSION}"
   echo "duplicity ${DUPLICITY_VERSION}"