diff --git a/redis/__init__.py b/redis/__init__.py
index 6503ac30b4..df4271ce36 100644
--- a/redis/__init__.py
+++ b/redis/__init__.py
@@ -53,7 +53,10 @@ def int_or_str(value):
     __version__ = "99.99.99"
 
 
-VERSION = tuple(map(int_or_str, __version__.split(".")))
+try:
+    VERSION = tuple(map(int_or_str, __version__.split(".")))
+except ValueError:
+    VERSION = tuple(99, 99, 99)
 
 __all__ = [
     "AuthenticationError",