diff --git a/pybind11/__main__.py b/pybind11/__main__.py
index e87b16beb..180665c23 100644
--- a/pybind11/__main__.py
+++ b/pybind11/__main__.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import argparse
 import sys
 import sysconfig
 
+from ._version import __version__
 from .commands import get_cmake_dir, get_include, get_pkgconfig_dir
 
 
@@ -25,6 +26,12 @@ def print_includes() -> None:
 
 def main() -> None:
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--version",
+        action="version",
+        version=__version__,
+        help="Print the version and exit.",
+    )
     parser.add_argument(
         "--includes",
         action="store_true",