diff --git a/.pre-commit-config.yaml b/.pre-commit-config.yaml
index 72ac56a656..7f77c2d7f9 100644
--- a/.pre-commit-config.yaml
+++ b/.pre-commit-config.yaml
@@ -97,4 +97,4 @@ repos:
         name: validate library versions
         language: script
         entry: utils/validate_versions.py
-        files: ".*/setup.py"
+        files: ".*/__init__.py"
diff --git a/utils/validate_versions.py b/utils/validate_versions.py
index c1e6d8acd3..77787d60e5 100755
--- a/utils/validate_versions.py
+++ b/utils/validate_versions.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 import os
 import sys
 from typing import Dict
+import argparse
 
 VERSION_LINE_START = "__version__ = "
 
@@ -37,7 +38,25 @@ def check_versions() -> bool:
     return True
 
 
+def set_version(new_version: str) -> None:
+    new_contents = f'{VERSION_LINE_START}"{new_version}"\n'
+    for directory in DIRECTORIES:
+        path = os.path.join(directory, "__init__.py")
+        print(f"Setting {path} to version {new_version}")
+        with open(path, "w") as f:
+            f.write(new_contents)
+
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
-    ok = check_versions()
-    return_code = 0 if ok else 1
-    sys.exit(return_code)
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
+    parser.add_argument("--new-version", default=None)
+    # unused, but allows precommit to pass filenames
+    parser.add_argument("files", nargs="*")
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+    if args.new_version:
+        print(f"Updating to verison {args.new_version}")
+        set_version(args.new_version)
+    else:
+        ok = check_versions()
+        return_code = 0 if ok else 1
+        sys.exit(return_code)