diff --git a/scripts/release_scripts/increment_version.py b/scripts/release_scripts/increment_version.py
index cd01471..30c073a 100644
--- a/scripts/release_scripts/increment_version.py
+++ b/scripts/release_scripts/increment_version.py
@@ -6,8 +6,13 @@
 
 def get_current_version(file_path: str) -> str:
     """Read the current version from the VERSION file."""
-    with open(file_path, "r") as file:
-        return file.read().strip()
+    try:
+        with open(file_path, "r") as file:
+            return file.read().strip()
+    except FileNotFoundError:
+        raise FileNotFoundError(f"Version file not found: {file_path}")
+    except IOError as e:
+        raise IOError(f"Error reading version file: {e}")
 
 
 def get_last_version_from_changelog(file_path: str) -> str: