diff --git a/lib/net/imap/net-imap.gemspec b/lib/net/imap/net-imap.gemspec
index bd4e4509ef..201a794b4e 100644
--- a/lib/net/imap/net-imap.gemspec
+++ b/lib/net/imap/net-imap.gemspec
@@ -1,4 +1,8 @@
-require_relative 'lib/net/imap/version'
+begin
+  require_relative 'lib/net/imap/version'
+rescue LoadError # Fallback to load version file in ruby core repository
+  require_relative "version"
+end
 
 Gem::Specification.new do |spec|
   spec.name          = "net-imap"