diff --git a/docs/conf.py b/docs/conf.py
index 661d93e0b..73b8889ee 100644
--- a/docs/conf.py
+++ b/docs/conf.py
@@ -25,8 +25,6 @@
 
 project = 'METplus'
 
-met_version = '12.0.0'
-
 author = 'UCAR/NCAR, NOAA, CSU/CIRA, and CU/CIRES'
 
 # list of contributing authors currently involved with the project
@@ -87,6 +85,10 @@
 
 verinfo = version
 
+# compute MET version as X+6.Y.Z of METplus version
+x, *rest = version.split('-')[0].split('.')
+met_version = '.'.join([str(int(x)+6), *rest])
+
 release_date = __release_date__
 
 release_year = release_date[0:4]