diff --git a/locallib.php b/locallib.php
index 1ae7575801dd692a7513b6a32bbf80082f024331..9c92e2abf4e7d2bd1eb4d28acb9c1354c416a88c 100644
--- a/locallib.php
+++ b/locallib.php
@@ -846,7 +846,7 @@ function vpl_create_tabobject($id, $href, $str, $comp = 'mod_vpl') {
  * @return string
  */
 function vpl_get_version() {
-    static $version = '';
+    static $version;
     if (! isset( $version )) {
         $plugin = new stdClass();
         require_once(dirname( __FILE__ ) . '/version.php');