diff --git a/beetsplug/replaygain.py b/beetsplug/replaygain.py
index 3e284ce62..5b715191e 100644
--- a/beetsplug/replaygain.py
+++ b/beetsplug/replaygain.py
@@ -136,11 +136,6 @@ class Bs1770gainBackend(Backend):
         -18: "replaygain",
     }
 
-    version = re.search(
-        'bs1770gain ([0-9]+.[0-9]+.[0-9]+), ',
-        call(['bs1770gain', '--version']).stdout.decode('utf-8')
-    ).group(1)
-
     def __init__(self, config, log):
         super(Bs1770gainBackend, self).__init__(config, log)
         config.add({
@@ -155,6 +150,13 @@ class Bs1770gainBackend(Backend):
         try:
             call([cmd, "--help"])
             self.command = cmd
+            try:
+                self.version = re.search(
+                    '([0-9]+.[0-9]+.[0-9]+), ',
+                    call([cmd, '--version']).stdout.decode('utf-8')
+                ).group(1)
+            except AttributeError:
+                self.version = '0.0.0'
         except OSError:
             raise FatalReplayGainError(
                 u'Is bs1770gain installed?'
diff --git a/test/test_replaygain.py b/test/test_replaygain.py
index 437b1426a..fe0515bee 100644
--- a/test/test_replaygain.py
+++ b/test/test_replaygain.py
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ if any(has_program(cmd, ['-v']) for cmd in ['mp3gain', 'aacgain']):
 else:
     GAIN_PROG_AVAILABLE = False
 
-if has_program('bs1770gain'):
+if has_program('bs1770gain', ['--replaygain']):
     LOUDNESS_PROG_AVAILABLE = True
 else:
     LOUDNESS_PROG_AVAILABLE = False
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ def reset_replaygain(item):
 
 
 class ReplayGainCliTestBase(TestHelper):
+
     def setUp(self):
         self.setup_beets()
         self.config['replaygain']['backend'] = self.backend