diff --git a/tightbind/main.c b/tightbind/main.c
index 3e2c6d0e..e44c3d72 100644
--- a/tightbind/main.c
+++ b/tightbind/main.c
@@ -105,6 +105,11 @@ char test_string[80];
 //  argc = ccommand(&argv);
 
 #endif
+  if( argc == 2 && strcmp(argv[1], "-v") == 0){
+    fprintf(stdout, "version: %s\n", VERSION_STRING);
+    exit(0);
+  }
+
   /* make sure the program was called with the right arguments */
   if( argc < 2){
     fprintf(stderr,"Usage: bind <inputfile> [paramfile]\n");