diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 91bc18c..984d2a8 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -98,6 +98,13 @@ Available config options are:
 * `auto_refresh` tells SearchFlip to automatically refresh an index after
   import, index, delete, etc operations. This is e.g. useful for testing, etc.
   Defaults to false.
+* `version` Enforce a specific Elasticsearch version and distribution no matter
+  which Elasticsearch version is actually installed. Can also be used to prevent
+  sending requests to determine the version:
+
+```ruby
+SearchFlip::Config[:version] = { number: "2.13", distribution: "opensearch" }
+```
 
 ## Usage
 
diff --git a/lib/search_flip/connection.rb b/lib/search_flip/connection.rb
index d7eb425..1fc60db 100644
--- a/lib/search_flip/connection.rb
+++ b/lib/search_flip/connection.rb
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ def initialize(options = {})
     # @return [String] The Elasticsearch distribution
 
     def distribution
-      @distribution ||= SearchFlip::JSON.parse(version_response.to_s)["version"]["distribution"]
+      @distribution ||= SearchFlip::Config.dig(:version, :distribution) || SearchFlip::JSON.parse(version_response.to_s)["version"]["distribution"]
     end
 
     # Queries and returns the Elasticsearch version used.
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ def distribution
     # @return [String] The Elasticsearch version
 
     def version
-      @version ||= SearchFlip::JSON.parse(version_response.to_s)["version"]["number"]
+      @version ||= SearchFlip::Config.dig(:version, :number) || SearchFlip::JSON.parse(version_response.to_s)["version"]["number"]
     end
 
     # Queries and returns the Elasticsearch cluster health.
diff --git a/lib/search_flip/version.rb b/lib/search_flip/version.rb
index c0a0423..1540232 100644
--- a/lib/search_flip/version.rb
+++ b/lib/search_flip/version.rb
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 module SearchFlip
-  VERSION = "3.8.0"
+  VERSION = "3.9.0"
 end
diff --git a/spec/search_flip/connection_spec.rb b/spec/search_flip/connection_spec.rb
index b566ad2..ad45b2b 100644
--- a/spec/search_flip/connection_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/search_flip/connection_spec.rb
@@ -5,12 +5,28 @@
     it "reutrns the distribution" do
       expect([nil, "opensearch"]).to include(SearchFlip::Connection.new.distribution)
     end
+
+    it "returns the distribution from the config when given" do
+      SearchFlip::Config[:version] = { distribution: "distribution" }
+
+      expect(SearchFlip::Connection.new.distribution).to eq("distribution")
+    ensure
+      SearchFlip::Config.delete(:version)
+    end
   end
 
   describe "#version" do
     it "returns the version" do
       expect(SearchFlip::Connection.new.version).to match(/\A[0-9.]+\z/)
     end
+
+    it "returns the version from the config when given" do
+      SearchFlip::Config[:version] = { number: "1.2.3" }
+
+      expect(SearchFlip::Connection.new.version).to eq("1.2.3")
+    ensure
+      SearchFlip::Config.delete(:version)
+    end
   end
 
   describe "#cluster_health" do