diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 34da1a3..da2e2f7 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,13 @@
 
 All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file
 
+## Unreleased
+
+### Added
+
+- added a `--version` option to `yaclog show` that prints just the version number
+
+
 ## Version 1.2.0 - 2024-04-16
 
 ### Added
diff --git a/yaclog/cli/__main__.py b/yaclog/cli/__main__.py
index 7f85747..baa7d13 100644
--- a/yaclog/cli/__main__.py
+++ b/yaclog/cli/__main__.py
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ def reformat(obj: Changelog):
               help='Show only the version body.')
 @click.option('--header', '-h', 'mode', flag_value='header',
               help='Show only the version header.')
+@click.option('--version', '-v', 'mode', flag_value='version', help='Show only the version number.')
 @click.argument('version_names', metavar='VERSIONS', type=str, nargs=-1)
 @click.pass_obj
 def show(obj: Changelog, all_versions, markdown, mode, version_names):
@@ -84,6 +85,7 @@ def show(obj: Changelog, all_versions, markdown, mode, version_names):
         'name': (lambda v, k: v.name),
         'body': (lambda v, k: v.body(**k)),
         'header': (lambda v, k: v.header(**k)),
+        'version': (lambda v, k: str(v.version))
     }
 
     str_func = functions[mode]