diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 4084b35b..b50ce25b 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -67,13 +67,11 @@ if(EXISTS "${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/.git")
     message(STATUS "GIT not found!?")
   endif()
 endif()
-add_definitions(-DKNUT_VERSION_STRING="${KNUT_VERSION_STRING}")
 
 # Generate build date for the about dialog Note: This is the simplest way to get
 # a build date out of CMake Drawbacks: The timestamp is only updated when CMake
 # is rerun. But this should sufficient for our use-case.
 string(TIMESTAMP KNUT_BUILDDATE "%Y-%m-%d")
-add_definitions(-DKNUT_BUILDDATE="${KNUT_BUILDDATE}")
 
 # Qt
 # ##############################################################################
diff --git a/src/core/CMakeLists.txt b/src/core/CMakeLists.txt
index eee09984..5fb293a0 100644
--- a/src/core/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/core/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@
 
 project(knut-core LANGUAGES CXX)
 
+configure_file(version.cpp.in ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/version.cpp)
+
 set(PROJECT_SOURCES
     astnode.h
     astnode.cpp
@@ -104,6 +106,8 @@ set(PROJECT_SOURCES
     userdialog.cpp
     utils.h
     utils.cpp
+    version.h
+    ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/version.cpp
     core.qrc)
 
 add_library(${PROJECT_NAME} STATIC ${PROJECT_SOURCES})
diff --git a/src/core/version.cpp.in b/src/core/version.cpp.in
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..15c04a8a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core/version.cpp.in
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+#include "core/version.h"
+
+namespace core {
+    QString knut_version()
+    {
+        return "${KNUT_VERSION_STRING}";
+    }
+
+    QString knut_build_date() {
+        return "${KNUT_BUILDDATE}";
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/core/version.h b/src/core/version.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ff16cf50
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core/version.h
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <QString>
+
+namespace core {
+QString knut_version();
+QString knut_build_date();
+}
diff --git a/src/gui/mainwindow.cpp b/src/gui/mainwindow.cpp
index e242aaab..3e1bc107 100644
--- a/src/gui/mainwindow.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/mainwindow.cpp
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 #include "core/slintdocument.h"
 #include "core/textdocument.h"
 #include "core/uidocument.h"
+#include "core/version.h"
 #include "documentpalette.h"
 #include "guisettings.h"
 #include "historypanel.h"
@@ -572,7 +573,7 @@ Build date: %2<br/><br/>
 Knut name has nothing to do with Knut Irvin, nor with Knut the polar bear.<br/>
 The name Knut is coming from St Knut, which marks the end of the Christmas and holiday season in Sweden.<br/>
 See Wikipedia article: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Knut%27s_Day">Saint Knut's Day</a>.)")
-                    .arg(KNUT_VERSION_STRING, KNUT_BUILDDATE);
+                    .arg(core::knut_version(), core::knut_build_date());
     QMessageBox dialog(QMessageBox::Information, tr("About Knut"), text, QMessageBox::Ok, this);
     dialog.setIconPixmap(QPixmap(":/gui/icons/knut-64.png"));
     dialog.exec();
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index 75624e47..bb2116ad 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
   Contact KDAB at <info@kdab.com> for commercial licensing options.
 */
 
+#include "core/version.h"
 #include "gui/knutmain.h"
 
 #include <QApplication>
@@ -19,7 +20,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
     QApplication::setOrganizationName("KDAB");
     QApplication::setApplicationName("knut");
-    QApplication::setApplicationVersion(KNUT_VERSION_STRING);
+    QApplication::setApplicationVersion(core::knut_version());
     QApplication::setWindowIcon(QIcon(":/gui/icons/knut-64.png"));
 
     Q_INIT_RESOURCE(core);