diff --git a/lib/rubocop/version.rb b/lib/rubocop/version.rb
index f9dc4311bcc..4458c627488 100644
--- a/lib/rubocop/version.rb
+++ b/lib/rubocop/version.rb
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ def self.version(debug: false, env: nil)
                                       rubocop_ast_version: RuboCop::AST::Version::STRING,
                                       ruby_engine: RUBY_ENGINE, ruby_version: RUBY_VERSION,
                                       ruby_platform: RUBY_PLATFORM)
+        return verbose_version unless env
+
         extension_versions = extension_versions(env)
         return verbose_version if extension_versions.empty?