diff --git a/anki/sync.py b/anki/sync.py
index b4027b5d2..dc947d912 100644
--- a/anki/sync.py
+++ b/anki/sync.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import requests
 from anki.db import DB, DBError
 from anki.utils import ids2str, intTime, json, platDesc, checksum, devMode
 from anki.consts import *
+from aqt.utils import versionWithBuild
 from .hooks import runHook
 import anki
 from .lang import ngettext
@@ -585,7 +586,7 @@ class RemoteServer(HttpSyncer):
         )
         ret = self.req(
             "meta", io.BytesIO(json.dumps(dict(
-                v=SYNC_VER, cv="ankidesktop,%s,%s"%(anki.version, platDesc()))).encode("utf8")),
+                v=SYNC_VER, cv="ankidesktop,%s,%s"%(versionWithBuild(), platDesc()))).encode("utf8")),
             badAuthRaises=False)
         if not ret:
             # invalid auth