diff --git a/.github/workflows/build.yml b/.github/workflows/build.yml
index 654bc97d6..ea72c540d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build.yml
@@ -19,5 +19,6 @@ jobs:
         # Until we have arm64 runners, we can't automatically test arm64 wheels
 #        - cp3*-macosx_arm64
       sdist: true
+      test_command: python -c "from drizzlepac import cdriz"
     secrets:
       pypi_token: ${{ secrets.PYPI_PASSWORD_STSCI_MAINTAINER }}
diff --git a/drizzlepac/__init__.py b/drizzlepac/__init__.py
index fb830e3e5..1ae2c5537 100644
--- a/drizzlepac/__init__.py
+++ b/drizzlepac/__init__.py
@@ -17,21 +17,8 @@
 import os
 import re
 import sys
-from pkg_resources import get_distribution, DistributionNotFound
-
-__version_commit__ = ''
-_regex_git_hash = re.compile(r'.*\+g(\w+)')
-
-try:
-    __version__ = get_distribution(__name__).version
-except DistributionNotFound:
-    __version__ = 'dev'
-
-if '+' in __version__:
-    commit = _regex_git_hash.match(__version__).groups()
-    if commit:
-        __version_commit__ = commit[0]
 
+from .version import __version__
 
 #if sys.version_info < (3, 8):
 #    raise ImportError("Drizzlepac requires Python 3.8 and above.")
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index caa92727e..b18378763 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ dependencies = [
     'scipy',
     'matplotlib',
     'stsci.tools>=4.0',
-    'stsci.image>=2.3.4',
+    'stsci.image>=2.3.7',
     'stsci.imagestats',
     'stsci.skypac>=1.0.9',
     'stsci.stimage',
@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@ requires = ["setuptools>=61",
 build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"
 
 [tool.setuptools_scm]
+version_file = "drizzlepac/version.py"
 
 [tool.setuptools]
 zip-safe = false
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index db27159da..01c07b8a1 100755
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@
         ('__STDC__', 1)
     ]
 
+# importing these extension modules is tested in `.github/workflows/build.yml`; 
+# when adding new modules here, make sure to add them to the `test_command` entry there
 ext_modules = [
     Extension(
         'drizzlepac.cdriz',