diff --git a/cuda_core/build_hooks.py b/cuda_core/build_hooks.py
index e38f5676d..9cc2c5948 100644
--- a/cuda_core/build_hooks.py
+++ b/cuda_core/build_hooks.py
@@ -7,11 +7,13 @@
 # - https://setuptools.pypa.io/en/latest/build_meta.html#dynamic-build-dependencies-and-other-build-meta-tweaks
 # Specifically, there are 5 APIs required to create a proper build backend, see below.
 
+import ctypes
 import functools
 import glob
 import os
+import pathlib
 import re
-import subprocess
+import sys
 
 from Cython.Build import cythonize
 from setuptools import Extension
@@ -23,6 +25,88 @@
 get_requires_for_build_sdist = _build_meta.get_requires_for_build_sdist
 
 
+@functools.cache
+def _get_cuda_paths():
+    CUDA_PATH = os.environ.get("CUDA_PATH", os.environ.get("CUDA_HOME", None))
+    if CUDA_PATH is None:
+        return None
+    CUDA_PATH = CUDA_PATH.split(os.pathsep)
+    print("CUDA paths:", CUDA_PATH, flush=True)
+    return CUDA_PATH
+
+
+@functools.cache
+def _get_cuda_version_from_cuda_h(cuda_home=None):
+    """
+    Given CUDA_HOME, try to extract the CUDA_VERSION macro from include/cuda.h.
+
+    Example line in cuda.h:
+        #define CUDA_VERSION 13000
+
+    Returns the integer (e.g. 13000) or None if not found / on error.
+    """
+    if cuda_home is None:
+        cuda_home = _get_cuda_paths()
+        if cuda_home is None:
+            return None
+        else:
+            cuda_home = cuda_home[0]
+
+    cuda_h = pathlib.Path(cuda_home) / "include" / "cuda.h"
+    if not cuda_h.is_file():
+        return None
+
+    try:
+        text = cuda_h.read_text(encoding="utf-8", errors="ignore")
+    except OSError:
+        # Permissions issue, unreadable file, etc.
+        return None
+
+    m = re.search(r"^\s*#define\s+CUDA_VERSION\s+(\d+)", text, re.MULTILINE)
+    if not m:
+        return None
+    print(f"CUDA_VERSION from {cuda_h}:", m.group(1), flush=True)
+    return int(m.group(1))
+
+
+def _get_cuda_driver_version():
+    """
+    Try to load ``libcuda.so`` or ``nvcuda.dll`` via standard dynamic library lookup
+    and call ``cuDriverGetVersion``.
+
+    Returns the integer (e.g. 13000) or None if not found / on error.
+    """
+    CUDA_SUCCESS = 0
+
+    if sys.platform == "win32":
+        try:
+            # WinDLL => stdcall (CUDAAPI on Windows), matches CUDA Driver API.
+            lib = ctypes.WinDLL("nvcuda.dll")
+        except OSError:
+            return None
+    else:
+        cdll_mode = os.RTLD_NOW | os.RTLD_GLOBAL
+        try:
+            # Use system search paths only; do not provide an absolute path.
+            # Make symbols globally available to any dependent libraries.
+            lib = ctypes.CDLL("libcuda.so.1", mode=cdll_mode)
+        except OSError:
+            return None
+
+    # int cuDriverGetVersion(int* driverVersion);
+    cuDriverGetVersion = lib.cuDriverGetVersion
+    cuDriverGetVersion.restype = ctypes.c_int  # CUresult
+    cuDriverGetVersion.argtypes = [ctypes.POINTER(ctypes.c_int)]
+
+    out = ctypes.c_int(0)
+    rc = cuDriverGetVersion(ctypes.byref(out))
+    if rc != CUDA_SUCCESS:
+        return None
+
+    print("CUDA_VERSION from driver:", int(out.value), flush=True)
+    return int(out.value)
+
+
 @functools.cache
 def _get_proper_cuda_bindings_major_version() -> str:
     # for local development (with/without build isolation)
@@ -38,15 +122,14 @@ def _get_proper_cuda_bindings_major_version() -> str:
     if cuda_major is not None:
         return cuda_major
 
+    cuda_version = _get_cuda_version_from_cuda_h()
+    if cuda_version:
+        return str(cuda_version // 1000)
+
     # also for local development
-    try:
-        out = subprocess.run("nvidia-smi", env=os.environ, capture_output=True, check=True)  # noqa: S603, S607
-        m = re.search(r"CUDA Version:\s*([\d\.]+)", out.stdout.decode())
-        if m:
-            return m.group(1).split(".")[0]
-    except (FileNotFoundError, subprocess.CalledProcessError):
-        # the build machine has no driver installed
-        pass
+    cuda_version = _get_cuda_driver_version()
+    if cuda_version:
+        return str(cuda_version // 1000)
 
     # default fallback
     return "13"
@@ -75,20 +158,11 @@ def strip_prefix_suffix(filename):
 
     module_names = (strip_prefix_suffix(f) for f in ext_files)
 
-    @functools.cache
-    def get_cuda_paths():
-        CUDA_PATH = os.environ.get("CUDA_PATH", os.environ.get("CUDA_HOME", None))
-        if not CUDA_PATH:
-            raise RuntimeError("Environment variable CUDA_PATH or CUDA_HOME is not set")
-        CUDA_PATH = CUDA_PATH.split(os.pathsep)
-        print("CUDA paths:", CUDA_PATH)
-        return CUDA_PATH
-
     ext_modules = tuple(
         Extension(
             f"cuda.core.experimental.{mod.replace(os.path.sep, '.')}",
             sources=[f"cuda/core/experimental/{mod}.pyx"],
-            include_dirs=list(os.path.join(root, "include") for root in get_cuda_paths()),
+            include_dirs=list(os.path.join(root, "include") for root in _get_cuda_paths()),
             language="c++",
         )
         for mod in module_names