diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 0fbdead..b5312e2 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -33,7 +33,8 @@ Then run it from inside any git repository:
 git_pruner
 ```
 
-To print the build's commit and date (from Go's automatic VCS stamping):
+To print the build's version (git tag), commit, and date (from Go's automatic VCS
+stamping):
 
 ```sh
 git_pruner version     # also --version, -v
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 98c0628..1e26c1d 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -8,18 +8,22 @@ import (
 	tea "github.com/charmbracelet/bubbletea"
 )
 
-// Build metadata. buildTime and gitCommit can be injected at link time via
-// -ldflags "-X main.buildTime=... -X main.gitCommit=..." (or -X main.buildDate=...);
-// when unset, buildInfo falls back to the VCS data the Go toolchain embeds.
+// Build metadata. version, buildTime and gitCommit can be injected at link time via
+// -ldflags "-X main.version=... -X main.buildTime=... -X main.gitCommit=..." (or
+// -X main.buildDate=...); when unset, buildInfo falls back to the VCS data the Go
+// toolchain embeds.
 var (
+	version   string
 	buildTime string
 	buildDate string
 	gitCommit string
 )
 
-// buildInfo returns the commit the binary was built from and when it was
-// compiled, preferring -ldflags values and falling back to Go's embedded VCS info.
-func buildInfo() (commit, date string) {
+// buildInfo returns the version (git tag), the commit the binary was built from,
+// and when it was compiled, preferring -ldflags values and falling back to Go's
+// embedded VCS info.
+func buildInfo() (ver, commit, date string) {
+	ver = version
 	commit = gitCommit
 	date = buildTime
 	if date == "" {
@@ -27,6 +31,12 @@ func buildInfo() (commit, date string) {
 	}
 	dirty := false
 	if info, ok := debug.ReadBuildInfo(); ok {
+		// go build stamps this from git tags: "v0.1.0" on a tagged commit, a
+		// "v0.1.1-0.<time>-<hash>" pseudo-version on later commits, "+dirty" with
+		// uncommitted changes, and "(devel)" when it has no VCS info.
+		if ver == "" && info.Main.Version != "(devel)" {
+			ver = info.Main.Version
+		}
 		for _, s := range info.Settings {
 			switch s.Key {
 			case "vcs.revision":
@@ -42,6 +52,9 @@ func buildInfo() (commit, date string) {
 			}
 		}
 	}
+	if ver == "" {
+		ver = "unknown"
+	}
 	if commit == "" {
 		commit = "unknown"
 	}
@@ -54,18 +67,18 @@ func buildInfo() (commit, date string) {
 	if dirty {
 		commit += " (dirty)"
 	}
-	return commit, date
+	return ver, commit, date
 }
 
-// versionString reports the build's commit, date, and Go version. Fields fall
-// back to "unknown" when build info is unavailable (e.g. `go run`).
+// versionString reports the build's version, commit, date, and Go version.
+// Fields fall back to "unknown" when build info is unavailable (e.g. `go run`).
 func versionString() string {
-	commit, date := buildInfo()
+	ver, commit, date := buildInfo()
 	goVer := "unknown"
 	if info, ok := debug.ReadBuildInfo(); ok {
 		goVer = info.GoVersion
 	}
-	return fmt.Sprintf("git_pruner\n  commit: %s\n  date:   %s\n  go:     %s", commit, date, goVer)
+	return fmt.Sprintf("git_pruner\n  version: %s\n  commit:  %s\n  date:    %s\n  go:      %s", ver, commit, date, goVer)
 }
 
 func main() {
diff --git a/main_test.go b/main_test.go
index 9a31cba..a7e5496 100644
--- a/main_test.go
+++ b/main_test.go
@@ -2201,7 +2201,7 @@ func TestUnicodeNameAndEmptySubject(t *testing.T) {
 // The version string is well-formed even when VCS build info is absent.
 func TestVersionString(t *testing.T) {
 	s := versionString()
-	for _, want := range []string{"git_pruner", "commit:", "date:", "go:"} {
+	for _, want := range []string{"git_pruner", "version:", "commit:", "date:", "go:"} {
 		if !strings.Contains(s, want) {
 			t.Fatalf("version output missing %q:\n%s", want, s)
 		}
@@ -2211,7 +2211,7 @@ func TestVersionString(t *testing.T) {
 func TestHelpViewIncludesBuildMetadata(t *testing.T) {
 	m := model{width: 80, height: 24}
 	v := m.helpView()
-	for _, want := range []string{"git_pruner — help", "build date:", "commit:"} {
+	for _, want := range []string{"git_pruner — help", "version:", "build date:", "commit:"} {
 		if !strings.Contains(v, want) {
 			t.Fatalf("help view missing %q:\n%s", want, v)
 		}
@@ -2219,16 +2219,20 @@ func TestHelpViewIncludesBuildMetadata(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestBuildInfoLdflagsOverride(t *testing.T) {
-	origCommit, origDate, origTime := gitCommit, buildDate, buildTime
+	origVer, origCommit, origDate, origTime := version, gitCommit, buildDate, buildTime
 	defer func() {
-		gitCommit, buildDate, buildTime = origCommit, origDate, origTime
+		version, gitCommit, buildDate, buildTime = origVer, origCommit, origDate, origTime
 	}()
 
+	version = "v9.9.9"
 	gitCommit = "abcdef123456"
 	buildDate = "2026-09-01"
 	buildTime = ""
 
-	commit, date := buildInfo()
+	ver, commit, date := buildInfo()
+	if ver != "v9.9.9" {
+		t.Fatalf("expected version v9.9.9, got %q", ver)
+	}
 	if commit != "abcdef1" {
 		t.Fatalf("expected truncated commit abcdef1, got %q", commit)
 	}
diff --git a/view.go b/view.go
index 374fe8c..032bb6c 100644
--- a/view.go
+++ b/view.go
@@ -558,8 +558,9 @@ func (m model) helpView() string {
 		"Protect more branches with: git config --add pruner.protect 'release/*'"))
 	b.WriteString("\n\n")
 
-	commit, date := buildInfo()
-	b.WriteString(dimStyle.Render(fmt.Sprintf("build date: %s · commit: %s", date, commit)))
+	ver, commit, date := buildInfo()
+	// Own line: a pseudo-version past the tag runs over 40 characters.
+	b.WriteString(dimStyle.Render(fmt.Sprintf("version: %s\nbuild date: %s · commit: %s", ver, date, commit)))
 	b.WriteString("\n\n")
 
 	b.WriteString(dimStyle.Render("press any key to return"))