diff --git a/src/cli.ts b/src/cli.ts
index 16d6258..435743d 100644
--- a/src/cli.ts
+++ b/src/cli.ts
@@ -39,11 +39,22 @@ import {
   type SetupInput,
   type SetupPathRuleInput
 } from "./types.js";
-import { applyUpdate, maybePrintUpdateNotice, planUpdate, type UpdatePlan } from "./update.js";
+import {
+  applyUpdate,
+  maybePrintUpdateNotice,
+  planUpdate,
+  readCurrentVersion,
+  type UpdatePlan
+} from "./update.js";
 
 async function main(argv: string[]) {
   const [area, command, ...rest] = argv;
 
+  if (area === "version" || area === "--version" || area === "-V") {
+    console.log(await readCurrentVersion());
+    return;
+  }
+
   if (area === "init") {
     await initOpenBrain();
     console.log("OpenBrain initialized.");
@@ -628,6 +639,9 @@ function printDreamResult(result: Awaited<ReturnType<typeof dreamMaybe>>) {
 
 function usage() {
   console.log(`Usage:
+  openbrain version
+  openbrain --version
+  openbrain -V
   openbrain init
   openbrain update [--yes]
   openbrain setup [--brain-scope default|paths] [--path-rule <brain=/path>] [--codex yes|no] [--claude yes|no] [--disable-claude-auto-memory yes|no]
diff --git a/tests/install-script.test.ts b/tests/install-script.test.ts
index 5b185ab..30a22af 100644
--- a/tests/install-script.test.ts
+++ b/tests/install-script.test.ts
@@ -84,6 +84,12 @@ describe("install script", () => {
     });
     expect(stdout).toContain("openbrain init");
     expect(stdout).toContain("openbrain setup");
+
+    const packageJson = JSON.parse(await readFile(path.join(installDir, "package.json"), "utf8"));
+    for (const argument of ["version", "--version", "-V"]) {
+      const result = await execFileAsync(path.join(binDir, "openbrain"), [argument]);
+      expect(result.stdout.trim()).toBe(packageJson.version);
+    }
   }, 90_000);
 
   test("can preserve an existing executable wrapper during an update", async () => {