diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index de15f36..1903772 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,11 +1,14 @@
 prefix ?= /usr
 .DEFAULT_GOAL := build
 
+# TODO probably use `go tool` for this eventually
+SWAG := $(shell command -v swag || echo 'go run github.com/swaggo/swag/cmd/swag@v1.16.4')
+
 npm-install:
 	npm install
 
 swag:
-	swag init --generalInfo api.go --output . --outputTypes json
+	$(SWAG) init --generalInfo api.go --output . --outputTypes json
 
 prebuild: npm-install swag
 	node esbuild.config.js
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4893172..c548977 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -91,8 +91,6 @@ Otherwise, install build dependencies. Go 1.19 or later is required:
 sudo apt install make golang gcc nodejs npm    # Debian
 sudo dnf install make golang gcc nodejs npm    # Fedora
 sudo pacman -S make go gcc nodejs npm          # Arch Linux
-
-go install github.com/swaggo/swag/cmd/swag@latest
 ```
 
 Then build the program with:
diff --git a/doc/installation.md b/doc/installation.md
index e6fd3dc..c3a1e08 100644
--- a/doc/installation.md
+++ b/doc/installation.md
@@ -140,8 +140,6 @@ This is a more declarative version of the Docker setup from above.
    sudo apt install make golang gcc nodejs npm # Debian
    sudo dnf install make golang gcc nodejs npm # Fedora
    sudo pacman -S make go gcc nodejs npm       # Arch Linux
-
-   go install github.com/swaggo/swag/cmd/swag@latest
    ```
 
 2. Clone the repository: