diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -431,10 +431,10 @@
     elif 'latesttag' in kw:
         if 'changessincelatesttag' in kw:
             version = (
-                '%(latesttag)s+.%(changessincelatesttag)s.%(node).12s' % kw
+                '%(latesttag)s+hg%(changessincelatesttag)s.%(node).12s' % kw
             )
         else:
-            version = '%(latesttag)s+.%(latesttagdistance)s.%(node).12s' % kw
+            version = '%(latesttag)s+hg%(latesttagdistance)s.%(node).12s' % kw
     else:
         version = '0+' + kw.get('node', '')[:12]