diff --git a/rally/common/version.py b/rally/common/version.py
index c2127d9322..c6e0f34114 100644
--- a/rally/common/version.py
+++ b/rally/common/version.py
@@ -24,4 +24,4 @@ version_info = pbr_version.VersionInfo("rally")
 
 
 def version_string():
-    return version_info.version_string()
+    return version_info.semantic_version().debian_string()