diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index f1f79ac..6452276 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -24,5 +24,8 @@
 dist-hook:
 	find $(distdir) -name '.[a-zA-Z0-9]*' | xargs rm -rf
 
+print-version:
+	@echo $(VERSION)
+
 EXTRA_DIST = doc tutorial contrib \
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