diff --git a/python/vyos/util.py b/python/vyos/util.py
index a1a835de6..b3eff3965 100644
--- a/python/vyos/util.py
+++ b/python/vyos/util.py
@@ -1,22 +1,37 @@
 # Copyright (c) 2017 VyOS maintainers and contributors
 #
 # Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
 # of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"),
 # to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation
 # the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense,
 # and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software
 # is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
 #
 # The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included 
 # in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
 #
 # THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED,
 # INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, 
 # FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS
 # OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY,
 # WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR
 #  IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
 
+import json
 
 class ConfigError(Exception):
     pass
+
+
+def get_version_data(file='/opt/vyatta/etc/version.json'):
+    with open(file, 'r') as f:
+        version_data = json.load(f)
+    return version_data
+
+def get_version(file=None):
+    version_data = None
+    if file:
+        version_data = get_version_data(file=file)
+    else:
+        version_data = get_version_data()
+    return version_data["version"]