diff --git a/qrcode/console_scripts.py b/qrcode/console_scripts.py
index 0166f00..c0955fe 100755
--- a/qrcode/console_scripts.py
+++ b/qrcode/console_scripts.py
@@ -44,7 +44,11 @@ def main(args=None):
     if args is None:
         args = sys.argv[1:]
 
-    version = metadata.version("qrcode")
+    try:
+        version = metadata.version("qrcode")
+    except metadata.PackageNotFoundError:
+        version = 'development'
+
     parser = optparse.OptionParser(usage=(__doc__ or "").strip(), version=version)
 
     # Wrap parser.error in a typed NoReturn method for better typing.