diff --git a/init.cpp b/init.cpp
index e114d80727..3260d1cc54 100644
--- a/init.cpp
+++ b/init.cpp
@@ -159,6 +159,7 @@ bool AppInit2(int argc, char* argv[])
     if (mapArgs.count("-?") || mapArgs.count("--help"))
     {
         string strUsage = string() +
+          "bitcoin version " + FormatVersion(VERSION).c_str() + " beta\n" +
           _("Usage:") + "\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n" +
             "  bitcoin [options]                   \t  " + "\n" +
             "  bitcoin [options] <command> [params]\t  " + _("Send command to -server or bitcoind\n") +