diff --git a/plugins/plugins.cpp b/plugins/plugins.cpp
index 019db5f..450b103 100644
--- a/plugins/plugins.cpp
+++ b/plugins/plugins.cpp
@@ -1069,10 +1069,20 @@ struct StaticPluginLoader {
             return;
         }
 
-        // force ABI, we use static plugins so this doesnt matter as long as it builds
-        json_t* const version = json_string((APP_VERSION_MAJOR + ".0").c_str());
-        json_object_set(rootJ, "version", version);
-        json_decref(version);
+        std::string version = "0.0.0" ;
+
+        json_t* versionJ = json_object_get(rootJ, "version");
+        if (versionJ != nullptr)
+            version = json_string_value(versionJ);
+
+        if (!string::startsWith(version, APP_VERSION_MAJOR + "."))
+            // force ABI, we use static plugins so this doesnt matter as long as it builds
+            version = version.replace(0, 1, APP_VERSION_MAJOR).c_str();
+
+        json_t* json_version = json_string(version.c_str());
+
+        json_object_set(rootJ, "version", json_version);
+        json_decref(json_version);
 
         // Load manifest
         p->fromJson(rootJ);