diff --git a/python/setup.py b/python/setup.py
index 45eb74eb87ce..bac2a7b179ca 100644
--- a/python/setup.py
+++ b/python/setup.py
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
           file=sys.stderr)
     sys.exit(-1)
 
+__version__ = "Unknown"  # Prevent linters from raising 'undefined name'
 try:
     exec(open('pyspark/version.py').read())
 except IOError: