diff --git a/CHANGELOG b/CHANGELOG
index e3a8c3731bfd9b3133c5187d40ed78b6f076f102..71ae0589948d06b93fd4d664db51822d2f8ecaef 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG
+++ b/CHANGELOG
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ v 8.11.0 (unreleased)
   - Limit git rev-list output count to one in forced push check
   - Retrieve rendered HTML from cache in one request
   - Load project invited groups and members eagerly in ProjectTeam#fetch_members
+  - Add GitLab Workhorse version to admin dashboard (Katarzyna Kobierska Ula Budziszewska)
 
 v 8.10.0
   - Fix profile activity heatmap to show correct day name (eanplatter)
@@ -164,7 +165,6 @@ v 8.10.0
   - Export and import avatar as part of project import/export
   - Fix migration corrupting import data for old version upgrades
   - Show tooltip on GitLab export link in new project page
-  - Add GitLab Workhorse version to admin dashboard (Katarzyna Kobierska)
 
 v 8.9.6
   - Fix importing of events under notes for GitLab projects. !5154
diff --git a/lib/gitlab/workhorse.rb b/lib/gitlab/workhorse.rb
index 97610b1f962de0554274166a25419f71db20d739..c6826a09bd285cf5e9b543f425460a22ebf84c18 100644
--- a/lib/gitlab/workhorse.rb
+++ b/lib/gitlab/workhorse.rb
@@ -77,9 +77,8 @@ def send_artifacts_entry(build, entry)
       end
 
       def version
-        if File.readable?(File.join(Rails.root, VERSION_FILE))
-          File.read(File.join(Rails.root, VERSION_FILE))
-        end
+        path = Rails.root.join(VERSION_FILE)
+        path.readable? ? path.read.chomp : 'unknown'
       end
 
       protected