diff --git a/build.py b/build.py
index 9ffd520b..1db1b92a 100755
--- a/build.py
+++ b/build.py
@@ -1278,7 +1278,7 @@ def cmd_sip(options, args):
         pycode = 'pycode'+base+':'+pycode
 
         sip_runner(src_name,
-            abi_version = '12.8',       # siplib abi version
+            abi_version = cfg.SIP_ABI,  # siplib abi version
             warnings = True,            # enable warning messages
             docstrings = True,          # enable the automatic generation of docstrings
             release_gil = True,         # always release and reacquire the GIL
diff --git a/buildtools/config.py b/buildtools/config.py
index a7c2a0d5..e9b865dd 100644
--- a/buildtools/config.py
+++ b/buildtools/config.py
@@ -85,6 +85,8 @@ class Configuration(object):
     PKGDIR = 'wx'
     # The name of the top-level package
 
+    SIP_ABI = '12.8'
+
     # ---------------------------------------------------------------
     # Basic initialization and configuration code