diff --git a/libgail-util/meson.build b/libgail-util/meson.build
index 6cca36f208..90fe93ca58 100644
--- a/libgail-util/meson.build
+++ b/libgail-util/meson.build
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ endif
 
 libgailutil = shared_library('gailutil-3',
                              soversion: gtk_soversion,
+                             version: gail_library_version,
                              sources: [gailutil_sources],
                              dependencies: libgtk_dep,
                              include_directories: [confinc, gtkinc],
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 4f68f81e2d..eeeaea4d5a 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -111,6 +111,7 @@ endif
 # Maintain compatibility with the Autotools build
 current = gtk_binary_age - gtk_interface_age
 gtk_library_version = '@0@.@1@.@2@'.format(gtk_soversion, current, gtk_interface_age)
+gail_library_version = '0.0.0'
 
 gtk_osxversions = [(100 * gtk_minor_version) + 1, '@0@.@1@.0'.format((100 * gtk_minor_version) + 1, gtk_micro_version)]