diff --git a/src/buildno.h b/src/buildno.h
deleted file mode 100644
index 72049c497..000000000
--- a/src/buildno.h
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-#define VERSION_MAJOR 3
-#define VERSION_MINOR 10
-#define VERSION_BUILD 0
diff --git a/src/creport.c b/src/creport.c
index 39ecd9c2b..f2a29bb73 100644
--- a/src/creport.c
+++ b/src/creport.c
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ without prior permission by the authors of Eressea.
 
 #include <platform.h>
 #include <kernel/config.h>
+#include <kernel/version.h>
 #include "buildno.h"
 #include "creport.h"
 #include "seen.h"
@@ -1515,7 +1516,7 @@ 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, "\"%d.%d.%d\";Build\n", VERSION_MAJOR, VERSION_MINOR, VERSION_BUILD);
+    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 c0549ecdf..1abe684e5 100644
--- a/src/kernel/save.c
+++ b/src/kernel/save.c
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
 
 #include <platform.h>
 #include <kernel/config.h>
+#include <kernel/version.h>
 #include "save.h"
 
 #include <buildno.h>
@@ -1859,6 +1860,12 @@ static void clear_npc_orders(faction *f)
     }
 }
 
+int version_no(const char *str) {
+    int maj = 0, min = 0, bld = 0;
+    sscanf(str, "%d.%d.%d", &maj, &min, &bld);
+    return (maj << 16) | (min << 8) | bld;
+}
+
 int writegame(const char *filename)
 {
     int n;
@@ -1889,7 +1896,7 @@ int writegame(const char *filename)
     fstream_init(&strm, F);
     binstore_init(&store, &strm);
 
-    WRITE_INT(&store, VERSION_BUILD);
+    WRITE_INT(&store, version_no(ERESSEA_VERSION));
     n = write_game(&gdata);
     binstore_done(&store);
     fstream_done(&strm);
diff --git a/src/kernel/save.h b/src/kernel/save.h
index 3cd443926..27dd56661 100644
--- a/src/kernel/save.h
+++ b/src/kernel/save.h
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@ extern "C" {
 
     int write_game(struct gamedata *data);
     int read_game(struct gamedata *data);
+    int version_no(const char *str);
 
     /* test-only functions that give access to internal implementation details (BAD) */
     void _test_write_password(struct gamedata *data, const struct faction *f);
diff --git a/src/kernel/save.test.c b/src/kernel/save.test.c
index ac356e89b..213543b77 100644
--- a/src/kernel/save.test.c
+++ b/src/kernel/save.test.c
@@ -312,6 +312,12 @@ static void test_read_password_external(CuTest *tc) {
     test_cleanup();
 }
 
+static void test_version_no(CuTest *tc) {
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, 0, version_no("0.0.0-devel"));
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, 0x10000, version_no("1.0.0-test"));
+    CuAssertIntEquals(tc, 0x10203, version_no("1.2.3-what.is.42"));
+}
+
 CuSuite *get_save_suite(void)
 {
     CuSuite *suite = CuSuiteNew();
@@ -324,5 +330,7 @@ CuSuite *get_save_suite(void)
     SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_readwrite_dead_faction_group);
     SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_read_password);
     SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_read_password_external);
+    SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_version_no);
+
     return suite;
 }
diff --git a/src/kernel/version.h b/src/kernel/version.h
index 79251ab99..5b3bf0cf6 100644
--- a/src/kernel/version.h
+++ b/src/kernel/version.h
@@ -8,5 +8,9 @@
 
  This program may not be used, modified or distributed 
  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
diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index 5aa5d7727..418e27f30 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
 #include <util/log.h>
 
 #include <kernel/config.h>
+#include <kernel/version.h>
 #include <kernel/save.h>
 #include <util/filereader.h>
 #include <util/language.h>
@@ -165,8 +166,8 @@ static int parse_args(int argc, char **argv, int *exitcode)
             if (strcmp(argi + 2, "version") == 0) {
                 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: %d.%d.%d\n\n",
-                    game_name(), VERSION_MAJOR, VERSION_MINOR, VERSION_BUILD);
+                    "Compilation: " __DATE__ " at " __TIME__ "\nVersion: %s\n\n",
+                    game_name(), ERESSEA_VERSION);
 #ifdef USE_CURSES          
             }
             else if (strcmp(argi + 2, "color") == 0) {