diff --git a/modules/motus/downloaddb/main.nf b/modules/motus/downloaddb/main.nf
index 58f3cd03..6a689e4a 100644
--- a/modules/motus/downloaddb/main.nf
+++ b/modules/motus/downloaddb/main.nf
@@ -30,12 +30,9 @@ process MOTUS_DOWNLOADDB {
     ## clean up
     rm ${software}
 
-    ## mOTUs version number is not available from command line.
-    ## mOTUs save the version number in index database folder.
-    ## mOTUs will check the database version is same version as exec version.
     cat <<-END_VERSIONS > versions.yml
     "${task.process}":
-        mOTUs: \$(grep motus db_mOTU/db_mOTU_versions | sed 's/motus\\t//g')
+        mOTUs: \$(echo \$(motus -h 2>&1) | sed 's/^.*Version: //; s/References.*\$//')
     END_VERSIONS
     """
 }