diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 2c91e283..028a2ba8 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -114,6 +114,12 @@ pub mod renderer;
 pub mod theme;
 pub mod utils;
 
+/// The current version of `mdbook`.
+///
+/// This is provided as a way for custom preprocessors and renderers to do
+/// compatibility checks.
+pub const MDBOOK_VERSION: &str = env!("CARGO_PKG_VERSION");
+
 pub use book::BookItem;
 pub use book::MDBook;
 pub use config::Config;
diff --git a/src/renderer/mod.rs b/src/renderer/mod.rs
index 906f7e27..78d208e2 100644
--- a/src/renderer/mod.rs
+++ b/src/renderer/mod.rs
@@ -26,8 +26,6 @@ use book::Book;
 use config::Config;
 use errors::*;
 
-const MDBOOK_VERSION: &str = env!("CARGO_PKG_VERSION");
-
 /// An arbitrary `mdbook` backend.
 ///
 /// Although it's quite possible for you to import `mdbook` as a library and
@@ -78,7 +76,7 @@ impl RenderContext {
         RenderContext {
             book: book,
             config: config,
-            version: MDBOOK_VERSION.to_string(),
+            version: ::MDBOOK_VERSION.to_string(),
             root: root.into(),
             destination: destination.into(),
         }