diff --git a/src/creport.c b/src/creport.c
index 98ce770df..51169ef0c 100644
--- a/src/creport.c
+++ b/src/creport.c
@@ -1509,7 +1509,7 @@ report_computer(const char *filename, report_context * ctx, const char *charset)
     fprintf(F, "%d;Basis\n", 36);
     fprintf(F, "%d;Runde\n", turn);
     fprintf(F, "%d;Zeitalter\n", era);
-    fprintf(F, "\"%s\";Build\n", ERESSEA_VERSION);
+    fprintf(F, "\"%s\";Build\n", eressea_version());
     if (mailto != NULL) {
         fprintf(F, "\"%s\";mailto\n", mailto);
         fprintf(F, "\"%s\";mailcmd\n", LOC(f->locale, "mailcmd"));
diff --git a/src/kernel/save.c b/src/kernel/save.c
index 5121e02ed..bffc339f9 100644
--- a/src/kernel/save.c
+++ b/src/kernel/save.c
@@ -1898,7 +1898,7 @@ int writegame(const char *filename)
     fstream_init(&strm, F);
     binstore_init(&store, &strm);
 
-    WRITE_INT(&store, version_no(ERESSEA_VERSION));
+    WRITE_INT(&store, version_no(eressea_version()));
     n = write_game(&gdata);
     binstore_done(&store);
     fstream_done(&strm);
diff --git a/src/kernel/version.c b/src/kernel/version.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..95d61f014
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/kernel/version.c
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+#include "version.h"
+
+#ifndef ERESSEA_VERSION
+// the version number, if it was not passed to make with -D
+#define ERESSEA_VERSION "3.10.0-devel"
+#endif
+
+const char *eressea_version(void) {
+    return ERESSEA_VERSION;
+}
diff --git a/src/kernel/version.h b/src/kernel/version.h
index 5b3bf0cf6..f71177f9f 100644
--- a/src/kernel/version.h
+++ b/src/kernel/version.h
@@ -10,7 +10,4 @@
  without prior permission by the authors of Eressea.
  */
 
-#ifndef ERESSEA_VERSION
-// the version number, if it was not passed to make with -D
-#define ERESSEA_VERSION "3.10.0-devel"
-#endif
+const char *eressea_version(void);
diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index d3d2cbe50..58a15edc0 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ static int parse_args(int argc, char **argv, int *exitcode)
                 printf("\n%s PBEM host\n"
                     "Copyright (C) 1996-2005 C. Schlittchen, K. Zedel, E. Rehling, H. Peters.\n\n"
                     "Compilation: " __DATE__ " at " __TIME__ "\nVersion: %s\n\n",
-                    game_name(), ERESSEA_VERSION);
+                    game_name(), eressea_version());
 #ifdef USE_CURSES          
             }
             else if (strcmp(argi + 2, "color") == 0) {