diff --git a/.go-version b/.go-version
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..d63a25a3633
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.go-version
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+1.19.4
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/build/dependencies.yaml b/build/dependencies.yaml
index 47bf25a0867..dbb09b0b0fd 100644
--- a/build/dependencies.yaml
+++ b/build/dependencies.yaml
@@ -90,6 +90,7 @@ dependencies:
   - name: "golang: upstream version"
     version: 1.19.4
     refPaths:
+    - path: .go-version
     - path: build/build-image/cross/VERSION
     - path: staging/publishing/rules.yaml
       match: 'default-go-version\: \d+.\d+(alpha|beta|rc)?\.?(\d+)?'