diff --git a/src/microsoft/opentelemetry/_constants.py b/src/microsoft/opentelemetry/_constants.py
index 44f87be4..99c71fd9 100644
--- a/src/microsoft/opentelemetry/_constants.py
+++ b/src/microsoft/opentelemetry/_constants.py
@@ -125,4 +125,4 @@
 GEN_AI_MAIN_AGENT_ATTRIBUTE_PREFIX = "microsoft.gen_ai.main_agent."
 
 # --- Version propagation for distro to exporter ---
-MICROSOFT_OPENTELEMETRY_VERSION_ENV = "microsoft_opentelemetry_version"
+MICROSOFT_OPENTELEMETRY_VERSION_ENV = "MICROSOFT_OPENTELEMETRY_VERSION"
diff --git a/src/microsoft/opentelemetry/_distro.py b/src/microsoft/opentelemetry/_distro.py
index 9bb2ac8d..36ba59b9 100644
--- a/src/microsoft/opentelemetry/_distro.py
+++ b/src/microsoft/opentelemetry/_distro.py
@@ -84,6 +84,9 @@
 )
 from microsoft.opentelemetry._version import VERSION
 
+os.environ.setdefault(MICROSOFT_OPENTELEMETRY_VERSION_ENV, VERSION)
+
+# pylint: disable=wrong-import-position
 import azure.monitor.opentelemetry.exporter._utils as _exporter_utils
 from azure.monitor.opentelemetry.exporter.statsbeat._statsbeat_metrics import (
     _StatsbeatMetrics,