diff --git a/news/version-test.rst b/news/version-test.rst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..05c3947
--- /dev/null
+++ b/news/version-test.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+**Added:**
+
+* Unit test for version.py
+
+**Changed:**
+
+* <news item>
+
+**Deprecated:**
+
+* <news item>
+
+**Removed:**
+
+* <news item>
+
+**Fixed:**
+
+* <news item>
+
+**Security:**
+
+* <news item>
diff --git a/tests/test_version.py b/tests/test_version.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e62433e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_version.py
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+"""Unit tests for __version__.py
+"""
+
+import diffpy.structure
+
+
+def test_package_version():
+    """Ensure the package version is defined and not set to the initial placeholder."""
+    assert hasattr(diffpy.structure, "__version__")
+    assert diffpy.structure.__version__ != "0.0.0"