diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 0b3aaa5..e8625ad 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
 
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v5
 
       - name: Install Rust
         uses: dtolnay/rust-toolchain@stable
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ jobs:
           cd ../../..
 
       - name: Upload artifact
-        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v5
         with:
           name: ${{ matrix.name }}
           path: ${{ matrix.name }}.*
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ jobs:
     needs: build
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
+      - uses: actions/download-artifact@v5
         with:
           path: artifacts
 
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index febdc49..fb38646 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -188,6 +188,16 @@ fn run_exec(argv: &[String], dir: &Path, extra_args: &[OsString]) -> ! {
 fn main() {
     let args: Vec<OsString> = env::args_os().skip(1).collect();
 
+    // `--version` works anywhere, even outside a project, so handle it before
+    // looking for tasks.
+    if matches!(
+        args.first().and_then(|a| a.to_str()),
+        Some("--version" | "-V")
+    ) {
+        println!("nr {}", env!("CARGO_PKG_VERSION"));
+        return;
+    }
+
     let detection = match sources::detect() {
         Some(d) => d,
         None => {
diff --git a/test.sh b/test.sh
index 8cd9314..a673212 100755
--- a/test.sh
+++ b/test.sh
@@ -362,6 +362,17 @@ else
     echo "(skipping uv equivalence test: uv not installed)"
 fi
 
+# Test 24: --version / -V print the version, and work outside a project
+VER_TMP=$(mktemp -d)
+OUTPUT=$(cd "$VER_TMP" && "$BIN_ABS" --version 2>&1)
+OUTPUT_SHORT=$(cd "$VER_TMP" && "$BIN_ABS" -V 2>&1)
+rmdir "$VER_TMP"
+if echo "$OUTPUT" | grep -qE '^nr [0-9]+\.[0-9]+\.[0-9]+' && [ "$OUTPUT" = "$OUTPUT_SHORT" ]; then
+    pass "--version prints version ($OUTPUT)"
+else
+    fail "--version prints version: '$OUTPUT' / '$OUTPUT_SHORT'"
+fi
+
 echo ""
 echo "Results: ${PASS} passed, ${FAIL} failed"