diff --git a/lbrynet/build_type.py b/lbrynet/build_type.py
index 862548fbc..07a818289 100644
--- a/lbrynet/build_type.py
+++ b/lbrynet/build_type.py
@@ -1,2 +1,3 @@
 # don't touch this. CI server changes this during build/deployment
 BUILD = "dev"
+BUILD_COMMIT = "source installation"
diff --git a/scripts/set_build.py b/scripts/set_build.py
index f4b4d4253..29e6c8a1a 100644
--- a/scripts/set_build.py
+++ b/scripts/set_build.py
@@ -1,33 +1,28 @@
+"""Set the build version to be 'qa', 'rc', 'release'"""
 
-"""Set the build version to be 'dev', 'qa', 'rc', 'release'"""
-
-import os.path
-import re
-import subprocess
 import sys
+import os
+import re
+
+
+def get_build_type(travis_tag=None):
+    if not travis_tag:
+        return "qa"
+    print("getting build type for tag: \"%s\"" % travis_tag)
+    if re.match('v\d+\.\d+\.\d+rc\d+$', travis_tag):
+        return 'rc'
+    elif re.match('v\d+\.\d+\.\d+$', travis_tag):
+        return 'release'
+    return 'qa'
 
 
 def main():
-    build = get_build()
     root_dir = os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.realpath(__file__)))
+    travis_commit = os.environ['TRAVIS_COMMIT'][:6]
+    build_type = get_build_type(os.environ.get('TRAVIS_TAG', None))
+    print("setting build type=%s, build commit=%s", build_type, travis_commit)
     with open(os.path.join(root_dir, 'lbrynet', 'build_type.py'), 'w') as f:
-        f.write("BUILD = '{}'\n".format(build))
-
-
-def get_build():
-    try:
-        tag = subprocess.check_output(['git', 'describe', '--exact-match', '--all']).strip()
-        if re.match('tags\/v\d+\.\d+\.\d+rc\d+$', tag.decode()):
-            print('Build: rc')
-            return 'rc'
-        elif re.match('tags\/v\d+\.\d+\.\d+$', tag.decode()):
-            print('Build: release')
-            return 'release'
-        print('Build: qa')
-        return 'qa'
-    except subprocess.CalledProcessError:
-        print("Couldn't determine build type, defaulting to qa.")
-        return 'qa'
+        f.write("BUILD = \"{}\"\nBUILD_COMMIT = \"{}\"\n".format(build_type, travis_commit))
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':