diff --git a/format.c b/format.c
index 70704f01..75fed569 100644
--- a/format.c
+++ b/format.c
@@ -529,6 +529,7 @@ format_create(struct cmdq_item *item, int flags)
 	RB_INIT(&ft->tree);
 	ft->flags = flags;
 
+	format_add(ft, "version", "%s", VERSION);
 	format_add_cb(ft, "host", format_cb_host);
 	format_add_cb(ft, "host_short", format_cb_host_short);
 	format_add_cb(ft, "pid", format_cb_pid);
diff --git a/tmux.1 b/tmux.1
index 0539c1f8..484749ba 100644
--- a/tmux.1
+++ b/tmux.1
@@ -3542,6 +3542,7 @@ The following variables are available, where appropriate:
 .It Li "session_windows" Ta "" Ta "Number of windows in session"
 .It Li "socket_path" Ta "" Ta "Server socket path"
 .It Li "start_time" Ta "" Ta "Server start time"
+.It Li "version" Ta "" Ta "Server version"
 .It Li "window_activity" Ta "" Ta "Integer time of window last activity"
 .It Li "window_activity_flag" Ta "" Ta "1 if window has activity"
 .It Li "window_active" Ta "" Ta "1 if window active"