diff --git a/src/lj_api.c b/src/lj_api.c
index 711c7e9d56..f0f41766cb 100644
--- a/src/lj_api.c
+++ b/src/lj_api.c
@@ -112,6 +112,13 @@ LUA_API void lua_xmove(lua_State *from, lua_State *to, int n)
   from->top = f;
 }
 
+LUA_API const lua_Number *lua_version(lua_State *L)
+{
+  static const lua_Number version = LUA_VERSION_NUM;
+  UNUSED(L);
+  return &version;
+}
+
 /* -- Stack manipulation -------------------------------------------------- */
 
 LUA_API int lua_gettop(lua_State *L)
diff --git a/src/lua.h b/src/lua.h
index 3d527401b9..f067483a3a 100644
--- a/src/lua.h
+++ b/src/lua.h
@@ -348,6 +348,7 @@ LUA_API void *lua_upvalueid (lua_State *L, int idx, int n);
 LUA_API void lua_upvaluejoin (lua_State *L, int idx1, int n1, int idx2, int n2);
 LUA_API int lua_loadx (lua_State *L, lua_Reader reader, void *dt,
 		       const char *chunkname, const char *mode);
+LUA_API const lua_Number *lua_version (lua_State *L);
 
 
 struct lua_Debug {