diff --git a/src/cli_util.rs b/src/cli_util.rs
index f06adb92c..01d68f806 100644
--- a/src/cli_util.rs
+++ b/src/cli_util.rs
@@ -2294,6 +2294,12 @@ impl CliRunner {
         }
     }
 
+    /// Set the version to be displayed by `jj version`.
+    pub fn version(mut self, version: &'static str) -> Self {
+        self.app = self.app.version(version);
+        self
+    }
+
     /// Replaces `StoreFactories` to be used.
     pub fn set_store_factories(mut self, store_factories: StoreFactories) -> Self {
         self.store_factories = Some(store_factories);
diff --git a/src/commands/mod.rs b/src/commands/mod.rs
index aaee12f69..a2d7d0b8d 100644
--- a/src/commands/mod.rs
+++ b/src/commands/mod.rs
@@ -3473,8 +3473,7 @@ fn cmd_sparse(ui: &mut Ui, command: &CommandHelper, args: &SparseArgs) -> Result
 }
 
 pub fn default_app() -> Command {
-    let app: Command = Commands::augment_subcommands(Args::command());
-    app.version(env!("JJ_VERSION"))
+    Commands::augment_subcommands(Args::command())
 }
 
 pub fn run_command(
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index b070d557e..21d1d75a2 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -15,5 +15,5 @@
 use jujutsu::cli_util::CliRunner;
 
 fn main() -> std::process::ExitCode {
-    CliRunner::init().run()
+    CliRunner::init().version(env!("JJ_VERSION")).run()
 }