diff --git a/doc/sphinx/conf.py b/doc/sphinx/conf.py
index 63e5b9c16..3e2e14174 100644
--- a/doc/sphinx/conf.py
+++ b/doc/sphinx/conf.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 # All configuration values have a default; values that are commented out
 # serve to show the default.
 
-import sys, os
+import sys, os, re
 
 # If extensions (or modules to document with autodoc) are in another directory,
 # add these directories to sys.path here. If the directory is relative to the
@@ -82,11 +82,12 @@ copyright = u'2012, Cantera Developers'
 # The version info for the project you're documenting, acts as replacement for
 # |version| and |release|, also used in various other places throughout the
 # built documents.
-#
+
+configh = open('../../include/cantera/base/config.h').read()
 # The short X.Y version.
-version = '2.2'
+version = re.search('CANTERA_SHORT_VERSION "(.*?)"', configh).group(1)
 # The full version, including alpha/beta/rc tags.
-release = '2.2.0'
+release = re.search('CANTERA_VERSION "(.*?)"', configh).group(1)
 
 # The language for content autogenerated by Sphinx. Refer to documentation
 # for a list of supported languages.