diff --git a/include/meson.build b/include/meson.build
index a58baea8e..e4e1b06ae 100644
--- a/include/meson.build
+++ b/include/meson.build
@@ -8,7 +8,8 @@ else
     subpatch = 0
 endif
 
-release = major * 10000000 + minor * 100000 + patch * 1000 + subpatch
+# convert to the old-style 1.x.y version scheme used up to 1.20.x for backwards compatibility
+release = 1 * 10000000 + major * 100000 + minor * 1000 + patch
 
 dri_dep = dependency('dri', required: build_glx)