diff --git a/include/picom/backend.h b/include/picom/backend.h
index f408410e..38db1013 100644
--- a/include/picom/backend.h
+++ b/include/picom/backend.h
@@ -418,6 +418,10 @@ struct backend_operations {
 	/// @return a bitmask of `enum backend_quirk`.
 	uint32_t (*quirks)(struct backend_base *backend_data) __attribute__((nonnull(1)));
 
+	/// Get the version of the backend
+	void (*version)(struct backend_base *backend_data, uint64_t *major, uint64_t *minor)
+	    __attribute__((nonnull(1, 2, 3)));
+
 	/// Check if an optional image format is supported by the backend.
 	bool (*is_format_supported)(struct backend_base *backend_data,
 	                            enum backend_image_format format)
diff --git a/src/backend/dummy/dummy.c b/src/backend/dummy/dummy.c
index a3ac1dc7..773dac59 100644
--- a/src/backend/dummy/dummy.c
+++ b/src/backend/dummy/dummy.c
@@ -208,6 +208,14 @@ static int dummy_max_buffer_age(struct backend_base *base attr_unused) {
 	return 5;
 }
 
+#define PICOM_BACKEND_DUMMY_MAJOR (0UL)
+#define PICOM_BACKEND_DUMMY_MINOR (1UL)
+
+static void dummy_version(struct backend_base * /*base*/, uint64_t *major, uint64_t *minor) {
+	*major = PICOM_BACKEND_DUMMY_MAJOR;
+	*minor = PICOM_BACKEND_DUMMY_MINOR;
+}
+
 struct backend_operations dummy_ops = {
     .apply_alpha = dummy_apply_alpha,
     .back_buffer = dummy_back_buffer,
@@ -221,6 +229,7 @@ struct backend_operations dummy_ops = {
     .new_image = dummy_new_image,
     .bind_pixmap = dummy_bind_pixmap,
     .quirks = backend_no_quirks,
+    .version = dummy_version,
     .release_image = dummy_release_image,
 
     .init = dummy_init,
diff --git a/src/backend/gl/egl.c b/src/backend/gl/egl.c
index 2d2fcec5..4548eeb5 100644
--- a/src/backend/gl/egl.c
+++ b/src/backend/gl/egl.c
@@ -347,6 +347,14 @@ static int egl_max_buffer_age(backend_t *base attr_unused) {
 	return 5;        // Why?
 }
 
+#define PICOM_BACKEND_EGL_MAJOR (0UL)
+#define PICOM_BACKEND_EGL_MINOR (1UL)
+
+static void egl_version(struct backend_base * /*base*/, uint64_t *major, uint64_t *minor) {
+	*major = PICOM_BACKEND_EGL_MAJOR;
+	*minor = PICOM_BACKEND_EGL_MINOR;
+}
+
 struct backend_operations egl_ops = {
     .apply_alpha = gl_apply_alpha,
     .back_buffer = gl_back_buffer,
@@ -361,6 +369,7 @@ struct backend_operations egl_ops = {
     .new_image = gl_new_image,
     .present = egl_present,
     .quirks = backend_no_quirks,
+    .version = egl_version,
     .release_image = gl_release_image,
 
     .init = egl_init,
diff --git a/src/backend/gl/glx.c b/src/backend/gl/glx.c
index 7272a35c..7fee1e24 100644
--- a/src/backend/gl/glx.c
+++ b/src/backend/gl/glx.c
@@ -521,6 +521,14 @@ static int glx_max_buffer_age(struct backend_base *base attr_unused) {
 	return 5;        // Why?
 }
 
+#define PICOM_BACKEND_GLX_MAJOR (0UL)
+#define PICOM_BACKEND_GLX_MINOR (1UL)
+
+static void glx_version(struct backend_base * /*base*/, uint64_t *major, uint64_t *minor) {
+	*major = PICOM_BACKEND_GLX_MAJOR;
+	*minor = PICOM_BACKEND_GLX_MINOR;
+}
+
 struct backend_operations glx_ops = {
     .apply_alpha = gl_apply_alpha,
     .back_buffer = gl_back_buffer,
@@ -535,6 +543,7 @@ struct backend_operations glx_ops = {
     .new_image = gl_new_image,
     .present = glx_present,
     .quirks = backend_no_quirks,
+    .version = glx_version,
     .release_image = gl_release_image,
 
     .init = glx_init,
diff --git a/src/backend/xrender/xrender.c b/src/backend/xrender/xrender.c
index 9732cc3c..4ffb6fae 100644
--- a/src/backend/xrender/xrender.c
+++ b/src/backend/xrender/xrender.c
@@ -1024,6 +1024,14 @@ static int xrender_max_buffer_age(struct backend_base *base) {
 	return ((struct xrender_data *)base)->vsync ? 2 : 1;
 }
 
+#define PICOM_BACKEND_XRENDER_MAJOR (0UL)
+#define PICOM_BACKEND_XRENDER_MINOR (1UL)
+
+static void xrender_version(struct backend_base * /*base*/, uint64_t *major, uint64_t *minor) {
+	*major = PICOM_BACKEND_XRENDER_MAJOR;
+	*minor = PICOM_BACKEND_XRENDER_MINOR;
+}
+
 struct backend_operations xrender_ops = {
     .apply_alpha = xrender_apply_alpha,
     .back_buffer = xrender_back_buffer,
@@ -1038,6 +1046,7 @@ struct backend_operations xrender_ops = {
     .new_image = xrender_new_image,
     .present = xrender_present,
     .quirks = xrender_quirks,
+    .version = xrender_version,
     .release_image = xrender_release_image,
 
     .init = xrender_init,