diff --git a/redis/__init__.py b/redis/__init__.py
index df4271ce36..3ab697065e 100644
--- a/redis/__init__.py
+++ b/redis/__init__.py
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ def int_or_str(value):
 
 try:
     VERSION = tuple(map(int_or_str, __version__.split(".")))
-except ValueError:
+except AttributeError:
     VERSION = tuple(99, 99, 99)
 
 __all__ = [