diff --git a/masque/VERSION.py b/masque/VERSION.py
index 12d4cbb..d914f09 100644
--- a/masque/VERSION.py
+++ b/masque/VERSION.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 """ VERSION defintion. THIS FILE IS MANUALLY PARSED BY setup.py and REQUIRES A SPECIFIC FORMAT """
 __version__ = '''
 2.4
-'''
+'''.strip()