diff --git a/release/files_common b/release/files_common
index b53462cf05..4ca12b5361 100644
--- a/release/files_common
+++ b/release/files_common
@@ -526,7 +526,6 @@ cereal/visionipc/*.pxd
 
 panda/.gitignore
 panda/__init__.py
-panda/VERSION
 panda/board/**
 panda/certs/**
 panda/crypto/**