diff --git a/red.js b/red.js
index 874778714..f9ff34bc1 100644
--- a/red.js
+++ b/red.js
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ nopt.invalidHandler = function(k,v,t) {
 var parsedArgs = nopt(knownOpts,shortHands,process.argv,2)
 
 if (parsedArgs.help) {
+    console.log("Node-RED v"+RED.version());
     console.log("Usage: node red.js [-v] [-?] [--settings settings.js] [flows.json]");
     console.log("");
     console.log("Options:");
diff --git a/red/red.js b/red/red.js
index 5e5641930..fa7f0745b 100644
--- a/red/red.js
+++ b/red/red.js
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ var events = require("./events");
 var server = require("./server");
 var nodes = require("./nodes");
 var library = require("./library");
+var fs = require("fs");
 var settings = null;
 
 var path = require('path');
@@ -34,6 +35,15 @@ var RED = {
         library.init();
         return server.app;
     },
+    
+    version: function() {
+        var p = require(path.join(process.env.NODE_RED_HOME,"package.json"));
+        if (fs.existsSync(path.join(process.env.NODE_RED_HOME,".git"))) {
+            return p.version+".git";
+        } else {
+            return p.version;
+        }
+    },
 
     start: server.start,
     stop: server.stop,
diff --git a/red/server.js b/red/server.js
index 2b6b62b22..8eadad272 100644
--- a/red/server.js
+++ b/red/server.js
@@ -63,10 +63,12 @@ function createServer(_server,_settings) {
 }
 
 function start() {
+    var RED = require("./red");
     var defer = when.defer();
     
     storage.init(settings).then(function() {
         console.log("\nWelcome to Node-RED\n===================\n");
+        util.log("[red] Version: "+RED.version());
         util.log("[red] Loading palette nodes");
         var nodeErrors = redNodes.load(settings);
         if (nodeErrors.length > 0) {