diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 559c345fd624bc97dc54bdf2ce20250a69acb8fa..fd19c2d55e4674e0d8491ad485c6ebbdd1cb8696 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ script:
     fi
 
 # build conda package
-  - if test -n "$PLUMED_CONDA" ; then make -C conda ; fi
+  - if test -n "$PLUMED_CONDA" ; then VERSION="${TRAVIS_TAG:-unspecified}" make -C conda ; fi
 
 # build docker container
   - if test "$PLUMED_DOCKER" = yes ; then make -C docker ; fi