diff --git a/peps/pep-0396.rst b/peps/pep-0396.rst
index bc022971f..dd2c7bc31 100644
--- a/peps/pep-0396.rst
+++ b/peps/pep-0396.rst
@@ -1,15 +1,21 @@
 PEP: 396
 Title: Module Version Numbers
-Version: $Revision: 65628 $
-Last-Modified: $Date: 2008-08-10 09:59:20 -0400 (Sun, 10 Aug 2008) $
 Author: Barry Warsaw <barry@python.org>
-Status: Rejected
+Status: Withdrawn
 Type: Informational
 Topic: Packaging
-Content-Type: text/x-rst
 Created: 16-Mar-2011
 Post-History: 05-Apr-2011
 
+.. withdrawn::
+
+   Refer to :ref:`packaging:runtime-version-access` and
+   :ref:`packaging:single-source-version` in the Python
+   Packaging User Guide for up to date recommendations on
+   accessing package version information at runtime,
+   and on defining runtime ``__version__`` attributes which are
+   automatically kept consistent with package distribution metadata
+
 
 Abstract
 ========
@@ -25,14 +31,28 @@ Conformance with this PEP is optional, however other Python tools
 (such as ``distutils2`` [1]_) may be adapted to use the conventions
 defined here.
 
-PEP Rejection
-=============
+
+PEP Rejection/Withdrawal
+========================
 
 This PEP was formally rejected on 2021-04-14.  The packaging ecosystem
 has changed significantly in the intervening years since this PEP was
 first written, and APIs such as ``importlib.metadata.version()`` [11]_
 provide for a much better experience.
 
+This rejection was reclassified as a withdrawal on 2024-10-21,
+as the previous state was being misinterpreted [12]_ as suggesting
+that *no* modules should be defining ``__version__`` attributes,
+which definitely isn't the case.
+
+Modules are still free to define ``__version__`` if they choose to.
+However, choosing *not* to do so won't interfere with looking up
+the version information for installed distribution packages, so an
+Informational PEP isn't the right tool to document community
+conventions around the use of module ``__version__`` attributes
+(they're better covered as part of the Python Packaging User Guide).
+
+
 User Stories
 ============
 
@@ -287,6 +307,9 @@ References
 .. [11] importlib.metadata
    (https://docs.python.org/3/library/importlib.metadata.html#distribution-versions)
 
+.. [12] Misinterpreting the significance of this PEP's rejection
+   (https://discuss.python.org/t/please-make-package-version-go-away/58501)
+
 
 Copyright
 =========