diff --git a/packages/bookwyrm/nixos-module.nix b/packages/bookwyrm/nixos-module.nix
index 590e94b..92cc0bf 100644
--- a/packages/bookwyrm/nixos-module.nix
+++ b/packages/bookwyrm/nixos-module.nix
@@ -11,9 +11,10 @@ with pkgs . kernelmaft ;
 					After=network.target
 
 					[Service]
+					ExecStartPre=ln -s ${bookwyrm}/var/lib/bookwyrm/VERSION /var/lib/bookwyrm/
 					ExecStart=${bookwyrm}/bin/bookwyrm
-					StateDirectory=bookwyrm  # Creates /var/lib/bookwyrm directory
 					WorkingDirectory=/var/lib/bookwyrm
+					StateDirectory=bookwyrm  # Creates /var/lib/bookwyrm directory
 				'' ;
 			} ;
 		} ;
diff --git a/packages/bookwyrm/package.nix b/packages/bookwyrm/package.nix
index 650a33b..63c9735 100644
--- a/packages/bookwyrm/package.nix
+++ b/packages/bookwyrm/package.nix
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ mkDerivation {
 		mkdir -p $out/bin
 		mkdir -p $out/lib/python3.11/site-packages
 		mkdir -p $out/lib/systemd/system
+		mkdir -p $out/var/lib/bookwyrm
 
 		# Python dependencies
 
@@ -104,7 +105,7 @@ mkDerivation {
 
 			export PYTHONPATH="$out/lib/python3.11/site-packages"
 
-			export DEBUG=false
+			export DEBUG="false"
 			export DOMAIN=""
 			export EMAIL=""
 			export EMAIL_HOST=""
@@ -117,6 +118,10 @@ mkDerivation {
 
 		chmod +x $out/bin/bookwyrm
 
+		# Working directory contents
+
+		cp $src/VERSION $out/var/lib/bookwyrm/
+
 		runHook postInstall
 	'' ;
 }