diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 2336a1489..a87b54ecc 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -128,7 +128,10 @@ endif
 
 add_project_arguments('-DSYSCONFDIR="/@0@"'.format(join_paths(prefix, sysconfdir)), language : 'c')
 
-version = '"@0@"'.format(meson.project_version())
+version = get_option('sway-version')
+if version == ''
+	version = '"@0@"'.format(meson.project_version())
+endif
 if git.found()
 	git_commit_hash = run_command([git.path(), 'describe', '--always', '--tags'])
 	git_branch = run_command([git.path(), 'rev-parse', '--abbrev-ref', 'HEAD'])
diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
index d3667acfd..8c722ecd0 100644
--- a/meson_options.txt
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+option('sway-version', type: 'string', description: 'The version string reported in `sway --version`.')
 option('default-wallpaper', type: 'boolean', value: true, description: 'Install the default wallpaper.')
 option('zsh-completions', type: 'boolean', value: true, description: 'Install zsh shell completions.')
 option('bash-completions', type: 'boolean', value: true, description: 'Install bash shell completions.')