diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9ec83d5b9..5abc197e7 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -76,12 +76,6 @@ export DESKPRO_API_KEY="some-key"
 Your aws credentials should be stored in a folder located at `~/.aws`. Follow [Amazon's instructions](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/cli/latest/userguide/cli-chap-getting-started.html#cli-config-files) for storing them correctly
 
 
-## Generate the application version file
-
-```shell
-    make generate-version-file
-```
-
 ## Running the application
 
 ```shell
diff --git a/scripts/bootstrap.sh b/scripts/bootstrap.sh
index c4d81cb44..28243ca2d 100755
--- a/scripts/bootstrap.sh
+++ b/scripts/bootstrap.sh
@@ -25,6 +25,9 @@ if [ ! $VIRTUAL_ENV ]; then
   . ./venv/bin/activate
 fi
 
+# we need the version file to exist otherwise the app will blow up
+make generate-version-file
+
 # Install Python development dependencies
 pip3 install -r requirements_for_test.txt