diff --git a/bin/rprotoc b/bin/rprotoc
index 9b04df5..3863767 100755
--- a/bin/rprotoc
+++ b/bin/rprotoc
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ opts.on('-o', '--out <OUT_DIR>', 'Specify the directory in which Ruby source fil
 opts.on_tail('-v', '--version', 'Show version.'){ puts(opts.ver); exit }
 opts.on_tail('-h', '--help', 'Show this message.'){ puts(opts.help); exit }
 
+Version = Protobuf::Version
+
 begin
   opts.order!
 rescue OptionParser::ParseError
diff --git a/lib/protobuf/common/util.rb b/lib/protobuf/common/util.rb
index f2323d3..702e303 100644
--- a/lib/protobuf/common/util.rb
+++ b/lib/protobuf/common/util.rb
@@ -14,4 +14,10 @@ def underscore(name)
       name.to_s.gsub(/\B[A-Z]/, '_\&').downcase
     end
   end
+
+  begin
+    Version = File.read(File.dirname(__FILE__) + '/../../../VERSION')
+  rescue
+    Version = 'unknown'
+  end
 end