diff --git a/packaging/dependencies.nix b/packaging/dependencies.nix
index b23c9cbcd..20992555c 100644
--- a/packaging/dependencies.nix
+++ b/packaging/dependencies.nix
@@ -42,6 +42,18 @@ let
   mkPackageBuilder =
     exts: userFn: stdenv.mkDerivation (lib.extends (lib.composeManyExtensions exts) userFn);
 
+  setVersionLayer = finalAttrs: prevAttrs: {
+    preConfigure =
+      prevAttrs.prevAttrs or ""
+      +
+        # Update the repo-global .version file.
+        # Symlink ./.version points there, but by default only workDir is writable.
+        ''
+          chmod u+w ./.version
+          echo ${finalAttrs.version} > ./.version
+        '';
+  };
+
   localSourceLayer =
     finalAttrs: prevAttrs:
     let
@@ -180,12 +192,14 @@ scope:
   mkMesonDerivation = mkPackageBuilder [
     miscGoodPractice
     localSourceLayer
+    setVersionLayer
     mesonLayer
   ];
   mkMesonExecutable = mkPackageBuilder [
     miscGoodPractice
     bsdNoLinkAsNeeded
     localSourceLayer
+    setVersionLayer
     mesonLayer
     mesonBuildLayer
   ];
@@ -194,6 +208,7 @@ scope:
     bsdNoLinkAsNeeded
     localSourceLayer
     mesonLayer
+    setVersionLayer
     mesonBuildLayer
     mesonLibraryLayer
   ];
diff --git a/src/libcmd/package.nix b/src/libcmd/package.nix
index d155d9f1e..d459d1c20 100644
--- a/src/libcmd/package.nix
+++ b/src/libcmd/package.nix
@@ -64,14 +64,6 @@ mkMesonLibrary (finalAttrs: {
     nlohmann_json
   ];
 
-  preConfigure =
-    # "Inline" .version so it's not a symlink, and includes the suffix.
-    # Do the meson utils, without modification.
-    ''
-      chmod u+w ./.version
-      echo ${version} > ../../.version
-    '';
-
   mesonFlags = [
     (lib.mesonEnable "markdown" enableMarkdown)
     (lib.mesonOption "readline-flavor" readlineFlavor)
diff --git a/src/libexpr-c/package.nix b/src/libexpr-c/package.nix
index ad1ea371c..694fbc1fe 100644
--- a/src/libexpr-c/package.nix
+++ b/src/libexpr-c/package.nix
@@ -36,14 +36,6 @@ mkMesonLibrary (finalAttrs: {
     nix-expr
   ];
 
-  preConfigure =
-    # "Inline" .version so it's not a symlink, and includes the suffix.
-    # Do the meson utils, without modification.
-    ''
-      chmod u+w ./.version
-      echo ${version} > ../../.version
-    '';
-
   mesonFlags = [
   ];
 
diff --git a/src/libexpr-test-support/package.nix b/src/libexpr-test-support/package.nix
index 5628d606a..44b0ff386 100644
--- a/src/libexpr-test-support/package.nix
+++ b/src/libexpr-test-support/package.nix
@@ -40,14 +40,6 @@ mkMesonLibrary (finalAttrs: {
     rapidcheck
   ];
 
-  preConfigure =
-    # "Inline" .version so it's not a symlink, and includes the suffix.
-    # Do the meson utils, without modification.
-    ''
-      chmod u+w ./.version
-      echo ${version} > ../../.version
-    '';
-
   mesonFlags = [
   ];
 
diff --git a/src/libexpr-tests/package.nix b/src/libexpr-tests/package.nix
index bb5acb7c8..51d52e935 100644
--- a/src/libexpr-tests/package.nix
+++ b/src/libexpr-tests/package.nix
@@ -46,14 +46,6 @@ mkMesonExecutable (finalAttrs: {
     gtest
   ];
 
-  preConfigure =
-    # "Inline" .version so it's not a symlink, and includes the suffix.
-    # Do the meson utils, without modification.
-    ''
-      chmod u+w ./.version
-      echo ${version} > ../../.version
-    '';
-
   mesonFlags = [
   ];
 
diff --git a/src/libexpr/package.nix b/src/libexpr/package.nix
index afd01c384..533dae9f2 100644
--- a/src/libexpr/package.nix
+++ b/src/libexpr/package.nix
@@ -77,14 +77,6 @@ mkMesonLibrary (finalAttrs: {
     nlohmann_json
   ] ++ lib.optional enableGC boehmgc;
 
-  preConfigure =
-    # "Inline" .version so it's not a symlink, and includes the suffix.
-    # Do the meson utils, without modification.
-    ''
-      chmod u+w ./.version
-      echo ${version} > ../../.version
-    '';
-
   mesonFlags = [
     (lib.mesonEnable "gc" enableGC)
   ];
diff --git a/src/libfetchers-tests/package.nix b/src/libfetchers-tests/package.nix
index f2680e9b3..1e379fc5a 100644
--- a/src/libfetchers-tests/package.nix
+++ b/src/libfetchers-tests/package.nix
@@ -44,14 +44,6 @@ mkMesonExecutable (finalAttrs: {
     gtest
   ];
 
-  preConfigure =
-    # "Inline" .version so it's not a symlink, and includes the suffix.
-    # Do the meson utils, without modification.
-    ''
-      chmod u+w ./.version
-      echo ${version} > ../../.version
-    '';
-
   mesonFlags = [
   ];
 
diff --git a/src/libfetchers/package.nix b/src/libfetchers/package.nix
index b0aecd049..3f52e9878 100644
--- a/src/libfetchers/package.nix
+++ b/src/libfetchers/package.nix
@@ -41,14 +41,6 @@ mkMesonLibrary (finalAttrs: {
     nlohmann_json
   ];
 
-  preConfigure =
-    # "Inline" .version so it's not a symlink, and includes the suffix.
-    # Do the meson utils, without modification.
-    ''
-      chmod u+w ./.version
-      echo ${version} > ../../.version
-    '';
-
   meta = {
     platforms = lib.platforms.unix ++ lib.platforms.windows;
   };
diff --git a/src/libflake-c/package.nix b/src/libflake-c/package.nix
index f0615a427..114950852 100644
--- a/src/libflake-c/package.nix
+++ b/src/libflake-c/package.nix
@@ -38,14 +38,6 @@ mkMesonLibrary (finalAttrs: {
     nix-flake
   ];
 
-  preConfigure =
-    # "Inline" .version so it's not a symlink, and includes the suffix.
-    # Do the meson utils, without modification.
-    ''
-      chmod u+w ./.version
-      echo ${version} > ../../.version
-    '';
-
   mesonFlags = [
   ];
 
diff --git a/src/libflake-tests/package.nix b/src/libflake-tests/package.nix
index f9d9b0bc0..714f3791a 100644
--- a/src/libflake-tests/package.nix
+++ b/src/libflake-tests/package.nix
@@ -46,14 +46,6 @@ mkMesonExecutable (finalAttrs: {
     gtest
   ];
 
-  preConfigure =
-    # "Inline" .version so it's not a symlink, and includes the suffix.
-    # Do the meson utils, without modification.
-    ''
-      chmod u+w ./.version
-      echo ${version} > ../../.version
-    '';
-
   mesonFlags = [
   ];
 
diff --git a/src/libflake/package.nix b/src/libflake/package.nix
index ebd38e140..5240ce5e3 100644
--- a/src/libflake/package.nix
+++ b/src/libflake/package.nix
@@ -40,14 +40,6 @@ mkMesonLibrary (finalAttrs: {
     nlohmann_json
   ];
 
-  preConfigure =
-    # "Inline" .version so it's not a symlink, and includes the suffix.
-    # Do the meson utils, without modification.
-    ''
-      chmod u+w ./.version
-      echo ${version} > ../../.version
-    '';
-
   meta = {
     platforms = lib.platforms.unix ++ lib.platforms.windows;
   };
diff --git a/src/libmain-c/package.nix b/src/libmain-c/package.nix
index cf710e03b..f019a917d 100644
--- a/src/libmain-c/package.nix
+++ b/src/libmain-c/package.nix
@@ -40,14 +40,6 @@ mkMesonLibrary (finalAttrs: {
     nix-main
   ];
 
-  preConfigure =
-    # "Inline" .version so it's not a symlink, and includes the suffix.
-    # Do the meson utils, without modification.
-    ''
-      chmod u+w ./.version
-      echo ${version} > ../../.version
-    '';
-
   mesonFlags = [
   ];
 
diff --git a/src/libmain/package.nix b/src/libmain/package.nix
index 046b505df..c03697c48 100644
--- a/src/libmain/package.nix
+++ b/src/libmain/package.nix
@@ -37,14 +37,6 @@ mkMesonLibrary (finalAttrs: {
     openssl
   ];
 
-  preConfigure =
-    # "Inline" .version so it's not a symlink, and includes the suffix.
-    # Do the meson utils, without modification.
-    ''
-      chmod u+w ./.version
-      echo ${version} > ../../.version
-    '';
-
   meta = {
     platforms = lib.platforms.unix ++ lib.platforms.windows;
   };
diff --git a/src/libstore-c/package.nix b/src/libstore-c/package.nix
index 89abeaab8..fde17c78e 100644
--- a/src/libstore-c/package.nix
+++ b/src/libstore-c/package.nix
@@ -36,14 +36,6 @@ mkMesonLibrary (finalAttrs: {
     nix-store
   ];
 
-  preConfigure =
-    # "Inline" .version so it's not a symlink, and includes the suffix.
-    # Do the meson utils, without modification.
-    ''
-      chmod u+w ./.version
-      echo ${version} > ../../.version
-    '';
-
   mesonFlags = [
   ];
 
diff --git a/src/libstore-test-support/package.nix b/src/libstore-test-support/package.nix
index 7cc29795c..ccac25ee1 100644
--- a/src/libstore-test-support/package.nix
+++ b/src/libstore-test-support/package.nix
@@ -40,14 +40,6 @@ mkMesonLibrary (finalAttrs: {
     rapidcheck
   ];
 
-  preConfigure =
-    # "Inline" .version so it's not a symlink, and includes the suffix.
-    # Do the meson utils, without modification.
-    ''
-      chmod u+w ./.version
-      echo ${version} > ../../.version
-    '';
-
   mesonFlags = [
   ];
 
diff --git a/src/libstore-tests/package.nix b/src/libstore-tests/package.nix
index 670386c4a..b39ee7fa7 100644
--- a/src/libstore-tests/package.nix
+++ b/src/libstore-tests/package.nix
@@ -52,14 +52,6 @@ mkMesonExecutable (finalAttrs: {
     nix-store-test-support
   ];
 
-  preConfigure =
-    # "Inline" .version so it's not a symlink, and includes the suffix.
-    # Do the meson utils, without modification.
-    ''
-      chmod u+w ./.version
-      echo ${version} > ../../.version
-    '';
-
   mesonFlags = [
   ];
 
diff --git a/src/libstore/package.nix b/src/libstore/package.nix
index c982b44f0..31867d331 100644
--- a/src/libstore/package.nix
+++ b/src/libstore/package.nix
@@ -69,14 +69,6 @@ mkMesonLibrary (finalAttrs: {
     nlohmann_json
   ];
 
-  preConfigure =
-    # "Inline" .version so it's not a symlink, and includes the suffix.
-    # Do the meson utils, without modification.
-    ''
-      chmod u+w ./.version
-      echo ${version} > ../../.version
-    '';
-
   mesonFlags =
     [
       (lib.mesonEnable "seccomp-sandboxing" stdenv.hostPlatform.isLinux)
diff --git a/src/libutil-c/package.nix b/src/libutil-c/package.nix
index 72f57d6f9..f26f57775 100644
--- a/src/libutil-c/package.nix
+++ b/src/libutil-c/package.nix
@@ -34,14 +34,6 @@ mkMesonLibrary (finalAttrs: {
     nix-util
   ];
 
-  preConfigure =
-    # "Inline" .version so it's not a symlink, and includes the suffix.
-    # Do the meson utils, without modification.
-    ''
-      chmod u+w ./.version
-      echo ${version} > ../../.version
-    '';
-
   mesonFlags = [
   ];
 
diff --git a/src/libutil-test-support/package.nix b/src/libutil-test-support/package.nix
index 33cd5217d..fafd47c86 100644
--- a/src/libutil-test-support/package.nix
+++ b/src/libutil-test-support/package.nix
@@ -38,14 +38,6 @@ mkMesonLibrary (finalAttrs: {
     rapidcheck
   ];
 
-  preConfigure =
-    # "Inline" .version so it's not a symlink, and includes the suffix.
-    # Do the meson utils, without modification.
-    ''
-      chmod u+w ./.version
-      echo ${version} > ../../.version
-    '';
-
   mesonFlags = [
   ];
 
diff --git a/src/libutil-tests/package.nix b/src/libutil-tests/package.nix
index d89c54453..c06de6894 100644
--- a/src/libutil-tests/package.nix
+++ b/src/libutil-tests/package.nix
@@ -45,14 +45,6 @@ mkMesonExecutable (finalAttrs: {
     gtest
   ];
 
-  preConfigure =
-    # "Inline" .version so it's not a symlink, and includes the suffix.
-    # Do the meson utils, without modification.
-    ''
-      chmod u+w ./.version
-      echo ${version} > ../../.version
-    '';
-
   mesonFlags = [
   ];
 
diff --git a/src/libutil/package.nix b/src/libutil/package.nix
index 2f19b5822..a0b80ade7 100644
--- a/src/libutil/package.nix
+++ b/src/libutil/package.nix
@@ -54,17 +54,6 @@ mkMesonLibrary (finalAttrs: {
     nlohmann_json
   ];
 
-  preConfigure =
-    # "Inline" .version so it's not a symlink, and includes the suffix.
-    # Do the meson utils, without modification.
-    #
-    # TODO: change release process to add `pre` in `.version`, remove it
-    # before tagging, and restore after.
-    ''
-      chmod u+w ./.version
-      echo ${version} > ../../.version
-    '';
-
   mesonFlags = [
     (lib.mesonEnable "cpuid" stdenv.hostPlatform.isx86_64)
   ];
diff --git a/src/nix/package.nix b/src/nix/package.nix
index bb90be1ef..40a280437 100644
--- a/src/nix/package.nix
+++ b/src/nix/package.nix
@@ -91,14 +91,6 @@ mkMesonExecutable (finalAttrs: {
     nix-cmd
   ];
 
-  preConfigure =
-    # Update the repo-global .version file.
-    # Symlink ./.version points there, but by default only workDir is writable.
-    ''
-      chmod u+w ./.version
-      echo ${version} > ./.version
-    '';
-
   mesonFlags = [
   ];
 
diff --git a/tests/functional/package.nix b/tests/functional/package.nix
index 74c034196..64ffa540a 100644
--- a/tests/functional/package.nix
+++ b/tests/functional/package.nix
@@ -75,16 +75,10 @@ mkMesonDerivation (
     ];
 
     preConfigure =
-      # "Inline" .version so it's not a symlink, and includes the suffix.
-      # Do the meson utils, without modification.
-      ''
-        chmod u+w ./.version
-        echo ${version} > ../../../.version
-      ''
       # TEMP hack for Meson before make is gone, where
       # `src/nix-functional-tests` is during the transition a symlink and
       # not the actual directory directory.
-      + ''
+      ''
         cd $(readlink -e $PWD)
         echo $PWD | grep tests/functional
       '';