diff --git a/src/main/java/com/senzing/sdk/core/InstallUtilities.java b/src/main/java/com/senzing/sdk/core/InstallUtilities.java
index 4e9d440..eb9eeec 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/senzing/sdk/core/InstallUtilities.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/senzing/sdk/core/InstallUtilities.java
@@ -497,20 +497,36 @@ static File findSenzingPathFromLib() {
     /**
      * Finds the Senzing build version JSON file.
      * 
-     * @return THe Senzing build version JSON file.
+     * @return The Senzing build version JSON file.
      */
     static File findBuildVersionFile() {
         if (SENZING_PATH == null) {
             return null;
         }
-        File erDir = new File(SENZING_PATH, "er");
-        if (!erDir.exists() || !erDir.isDirectory()) {
-            return null;
+        
+        // declare the version file
+        File versionFile = null;
+
+        // check if we might be building the Senzing product
+        if (SENZING_PATH.getName().equalsIgnoreCase("dist")) {
+            versionFile = new File(SENZING_PATH, "szBuildVersion.json");
+            if (!versionFile.exists() || !versionFile.isFile()) {
+                versionFile = null;
+            }
         }
-        File versionFile = new File(erDir, "szBuildVersion.json");
-        if (!versionFile.exists() || !versionFile.isFile()) {
-            return null;
+
+        // fall back to a completed build structure if versionFile not found
+        if (versionFile == null) {
+            File erDir = new File(SENZING_PATH, "er");
+            if (!erDir.exists() || !erDir.isDirectory()) {
+                return null;
+            }
+            versionFile = new File(erDir, "szBuildVersion.json");
+            if (!versionFile.exists() || !versionFile.isFile()) {
+                return null;
+            }
         }
+
         try {
             return versionFile.getCanonicalFile();