diff --git a/bin/cqlsh.py b/bin/cqlsh.py
index f599185506..566eb6298f 100644
--- a/bin/cqlsh.py
+++ b/bin/cqlsh.py
@@ -171,7 +171,10 @@ from cqlshlib.formatting import (DEFAULT_DATE_FORMAT, DEFAULT_NANOTIME_FORMAT,
                                  formatter_for)
 from cqlshlib.tracing import print_trace, print_trace_session
 from cqlshlib.util import get_file_encoding_bomsize, trim_if_present
-from cqlshlib.serverversion import version as build_version
+try:
+    from cqlshlib.serverversion import version as build_version
+except ImportError:
+    build_version = "UNKNOWN"
 
 DEFAULT_HOST = '127.0.0.1'
 DEFAULT_PORT = 9042