diff --git a/docs/conf.py b/docs/conf.py
index fe3bb3c..afdfb74 100644
--- a/docs/conf.py
+++ b/docs/conf.py
@@ -18,7 +18,11 @@ import sys, os
 # documentation root, use os.path.abspath to make it absolute, like shown here.
 sys.path.insert(0, os.path.abspath('..'))
 
-execfile('../djrill/_version.py')
+# define __version__ and __minor_version__ from ../djrill/_version.py,
+# but without importing from djrill (which would make docs dependent on Django, etc.)
+with open("../djrill/_version.py") as f:
+    code = compile(f.read(), "../djrill/_version.py", 'exec')
+    exec(code)
 
 # -- General configuration -----------------------------------------------------
 
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 3e6fc3a..b29c789 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
 from setuptools import setup
 import re
-execfile('djrill/_version.py')  # defines __version__, __minor_version__
+
+# define __version__ and __minor_version__ from djrill/_version.py,
+# but without importing from djrill (which would break setup)
+with open("djrill/_version.py") as f:
+    code = compile(f.read(), "djrill/_version.py", 'exec')
+    exec(code)
 
 
 def long_description_from_readme(rst):