diff --git a/cmdMa.cpp b/cmdMa.cpp
index 4b79dea3..bc1d4609 100644
--- a/cmdMa.cpp
+++ b/cmdMa.cpp
@@ -394,6 +394,11 @@ int main( int argc, char* argv[] )
             generateHelpMessage( xExecutionContext.xParameterSetManager );
             return 0;
         } // if
+        if( xExecutionContext.xParameterSetManager.pGeneralParameterSet->pbPrintVerstion->get( ) )
+        {
+            std::cout << MA_VERSION << std::endl;
+            return 0;
+        } // if
 
         std::pair<int, double> xPreviousProgress = std::make_pair( -1, 0 );
         std::cout << "starting alignment." << std::endl;
diff --git a/libs/ms/CMakeLists.txt b/libs/ms/CMakeLists.txt
index b01aa354..c4a2a075 100644
--- a/libs/ms/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/libs/ms/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 cmake_minimum_required (VERSION 3.8)
 
-project("MS Lib" VERSION 2.0.0 DESCRIPTION "Modular Structure library")
+project("MS Lib" VERSION 2.0.1 DESCRIPTION "Modular Structure library")
 
 
 if( PythonLibs_FOUND )
@@ -199,10 +199,10 @@ endif()
 
 if(NOT RESULT_COMMIT STREQUAL "0" OR NOT RESULT_STATUS STREQUAL "0")
     message( "--libMS: WARNING cannot infer version from git (maybe git.exe is not in your environment path?)" )
-    set(MS_VERSION "Unknown")
+    set(MA_VERSION "Unknown")
 else()
-    set(MS_VERSION "${PROJECT_VERSION}-${GIT_COMMIT_HASH}${GIT_STATUS}")
-    message( "--libMS: Version = ${MS_VERSION}" )
+    set(MA_VERSION "${PROJECT_VERSION}-${GIT_COMMIT_HASH}${GIT_STATUS}")
+    message( "--libMS: Version = ${MA_VERSION}" )
 endif()
 
 configure_file( # @todo so far this only triggers during configure not at build time
diff --git a/libs/ms/inc/ms/util/parameter.h b/libs/ms/inc/ms/util/parameter.h
index 648c8283..340e9872 100644
--- a/libs/ms/inc/ms/util/parameter.h
+++ b/libs/ms/inc/ms/util/parameter.h
@@ -951,6 +951,7 @@ class GeneralParameter : public ParameterSetBase
     AlignerParameterPointer<bool> pbUseMaxHardareConcurrency; // Exploit all cores
     AlignerParameterPointer<int> piNumberOfThreads; // selected number of threads
     AlignerParameterPointer<bool> pbPrintHelpMessage; // Print the help message to stdout
+    AlignerParameterPointer<bool> pbPrintVerstion; // Print the version to stdout
 
     /* Constructor */
     GeneralParameter( )
@@ -972,7 +973,8 @@ class GeneralParameter : public ParameterSetBase
                              "Number of threads used in the context of alignments. This options is only available, if "
                              "'use all processor cores' is off.",
                              GENERAL_PARAMETER, 1, checkPositiveValue ),
-          pbPrintHelpMessage( this, "Help", 'h', "Print the complete help text.", GENERAL_PARAMETER, false )
+          pbPrintHelpMessage( this, "Help", 'h', "Print the complete help text.", GENERAL_PARAMETER, false ),
+          pbPrintVerstion( this, "Version", 'v', "Print the version and exit.", GENERAL_PARAMETER, false )
     {
         xSAMOutputPath->fEnabled = [ this ]( void ) { return this->xSAMOutputTypeChoice->uiSelection == 1; };
         xSAMOutputFileName->fEnabled = [ this ]( void ) { return this->xSAMOutputTypeChoice->uiSelection == 2; };