diff --git a/src/version.spec.ts b/src/version.spec.ts
index 55fb674..0758d18 100644
--- a/src/version.spec.ts
+++ b/src/version.spec.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
+import { createRequire } from 'node:module'
 import { describe, it, expect } from 'vitest'
 import { VERSION } from './version.js'
+import { getVersion } from './get-version.js'
+const require = createRequire(import.meta.url)
+const pkg: { version: string } = require('../package.json')
 
 describe('VERSION', () => {
   it('should be defined', () => {
@@ -13,4 +17,8 @@ describe('VERSION', () => {
   it('should be a valid semver format', () => {
     expect(VERSION).toMatch(/^\d+\.\d+\.\d+/)
   })
+
+  it('should equal the version in package.json', () => {
+    expect(getVersion()).toBe(pkg.version)
+  })
 })
diff --git a/src/version.ts b/src/version.ts
index 01c46c5..6738c64 100644
--- a/src/version.ts
+++ b/src/version.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,9 @@
+import { createRequire } from 'node:module'
 /**
- * Centy version constant
+ * Centy version constant, read from the package's own package.json.
+ * Works from both src/ (tests) and dist/ (built CLI): both sit one level below the package root.
  */
-export const VERSION = '0.0.0'
+const require = createRequire(import.meta.url)
+const pkg: { version: string } = require('../package.json')
+
+export const VERSION: string = pkg.version