diff --git a/redbot/__main__.py b/redbot/__main__.py
index 28029fef5..1db1a7a52 100644
--- a/redbot/__main__.py
+++ b/redbot/__main__.py
@@ -96,15 +96,18 @@ def list_instances():
 
 
 def main():
+    description = "Red - Version {}".format(__version__)
     cli_flags = parse_cli_flags(sys.argv[1:])
     if cli_flags.list_instances:
         list_instances()
+    elif cli_flags.version:
+        print(description)
+        sys.exit(0)
     elif not cli_flags.instance_name:
         print("Error: No instance name was provided!")
         sys.exit(1)
     load_basic_configuration(cli_flags.instance_name)
     log, sentry_log = init_loggers(cli_flags)
-    description = "Red - Version {}".format(__version__)
     red = Red(cli_flags, description=description, pm_help=None)
     init_global_checks(red)
     init_events(red, cli_flags)
diff --git a/redbot/core/cli.py b/redbot/core/cli.py
index 1a3d4b46d..272c4c2bd 100644
--- a/redbot/core/cli.py
+++ b/redbot/core/cli.py
@@ -64,6 +64,8 @@ def ask_sentry(red: Red):
 def parse_cli_flags(args):
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="Red - Discord Bot",
                                      usage="redbot <instance_name> [arguments]")
+    parser.add_argument("--version", "-V", action="store_true",
+                        help="Show Red's current version")
     parser.add_argument("--list-instances", action="store_true",
                         help="List all instance names setup "
                              "with 'redbot-setup'")