diff --git a/awesome_print.gemspec b/awesome_print.gemspec
index e2d2368..621b801 100644
--- a/awesome_print.gemspec
+++ b/awesome_print.gemspec
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 # See LICENSE file or http://www.opensource.org/licenses/mit-license.php
 #------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 require "rake"
+require File.dirname(__FILE__) + "/lib/awesome_print/version"
 
 task :default => :spec
 
@@ -15,7 +16,7 @@ end
 
 Gem::Specification.new do |s|
   s.name        = "awesome_print"
-  s.version     = "1.0.0"
+  s.version     = AwesomePrint.version
 # s.platform    = Gem::Platform::RUBY
   s.authors     = "Michael Dvorkin"
   s.date        = "2011-11-08"
diff --git a/lib/awesome_print.rb b/lib/awesome_print.rb
index 7c689a2..d74fa6a 100755
--- a/lib/awesome_print.rb
+++ b/lib/awesome_print.rb
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ unless defined?(AwesomePrint)
 
   require File.dirname(__FILE__) + "/awesome_print/inspector"
   require File.dirname(__FILE__) + "/awesome_print/formatter"
+  require File.dirname(__FILE__) + "/awesome_print/version"
   require File.dirname(__FILE__) + "/awesome_print/core_ext/logger" if defined?(Logger)
   require File.dirname(__FILE__) + "/awesome_print/ext/action_view" if defined?(ActionView)
 
diff --git a/lib/awesome_print/version.rb b/lib/awesome_print/version.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..afbcb4b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/awesome_print/version.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+# Copyright (c) 2010-2011 Michael Dvorkin
+#
+# Awesome Print is freely distributable under the terms of MIT license.
+# See LICENSE file or http://www.opensource.org/licenses/mit-license.php
+#------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+module AwesomePrint
+  def self.version
+    '1.0.0'
+  end
+end