diff --git a/interfaces/python/Cantera/__init__.py b/interfaces/python/Cantera/__init__.py
index 4e6e985d6..cf499e42c 100755
--- a/interfaces/python/Cantera/__init__.py
+++ b/interfaces/python/Cantera/__init__.py
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ from importFromFile import *
 import os as _os
 import sys as _sys
 
+__version__ = _cantera.ct_get_version()
+
 import warnings
 warnings.warn(
     "\nThis version of the Cantera Python module is deprecated and will not be\n"
diff --git a/src/python/ctfuncs.cpp b/src/python/ctfuncs.cpp
index 2d2916c74..c3edc6344 100644
--- a/src/python/ctfuncs.cpp
+++ b/src/python/ctfuncs.cpp
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ ct_writelogfile(PyObject* self, PyObject* args)
     return Py_BuildValue("i",iok);
 }
 
-
-
-
-
+static PyObject* ct_get_version(PyObject* self, PyObject* args)
+{
+    return Py_BuildValue("s",std::string(CANTERA_VERSION).c_str());
+}
diff --git a/src/python/methods.h b/src/python/methods.h
index 411633f8f..42da26e20 100644
--- a/src/python/methods.h
+++ b/src/python/methods.h
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@ static PyMethodDef ct_methods[] = {
     {"ct_refcnt", ct_refcnt,  METH_VARARGS},
     {"ct_ck2cti", ct_ck2cti,  METH_VARARGS},
     {"ct_writelogfile", ct_writelogfile,  METH_VARARGS},
+    {"ct_get_version", ct_get_version, METH_VARARGS},
     //{"readlog", ct_readlog,  METH_VARARGS},
     //{"buildSolutionFromXML", ct_buildSolutionFromXML, METH_VARARGS},