diff --git a/src/version.rs b/src/version.rs
index 2ccc3b8cc0..70e27d1d6b 100644
--- a/src/version.rs
+++ b/src/version.rs
@@ -45,7 +45,8 @@ impl BuildInfo {
             build_profile: BUILD_RUST_PROFILE.to_string(),
             build_status: BUILD_STATUS.to_string(),
             git_tag: BUILD_TAG.to_string(),
-            istio_version: env::var("ISTIO_VERSION").unwrap_or_else(|_| "unknown".to_string()),
+            istio_version: env::var("ISTIO_META_ISTIO_VERSION")
+                .unwrap_or_else(|_| "unknown".to_string()),
         }
     }
 }