diff --git a/ergonomadic.go b/ergonomadic.go
index 76ad5535..43a03cc0 100644
--- a/ergonomadic.go
+++ b/ergonomadic.go
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ func usage() {
 	fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, "  initdb -conf <config>  -- initialize database")
 	fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, "  upgrade -conf <config> -- upgrade database")
 	fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, "  genpasswd <password>   -- bcrypt a password")
+	fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr)
+	fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, "software version:", irc.SEM_VER)
 	flag.PrintDefaults()
 }
 
diff --git a/irc/constants.go b/irc/constants.go
index 955f3303..ea74c585 100644
--- a/irc/constants.go
+++ b/irc/constants.go
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 package irc
 
 const (
-	SEM_VER       = "ergonomadic-1.3.1"
+	SEM_VER       = "ergonomadic-1.4"
 	CRLF          = "\r\n"
 	MAX_REPLY_LEN = 512 - len(CRLF)