diff --git a/src/pipecat/__init__.py b/src/pipecat/__init__.py
index 1975e1654..d1529a45b 100644
--- a/src/pipecat/__init__.py
+++ b/src/pipecat/__init__.py
@@ -5,14 +5,20 @@
 #
 
 import sys
-from importlib.metadata import version
+from importlib.metadata import version as lib_version
 
 from loguru import logger
 
-__version__ = version("pipecat-ai")
+__version__ = lib_version("pipecat-ai")
 
 logger.info(f"ᓚᘏᗢ Pipecat {__version__} (Python {sys.version}) ᓚᘏᗢ")
 
+
+def version() -> str:
+    """Returns the Pipecat version."""
+    return __version__
+
+
 # We replace `asyncio.wait_for()` for `wait_for2.wait_for()` for Python < 3.12.
 #
 # In Python 3.12, `asyncio.wait_for()` is implemented in terms of