diff --git a/include/a2_types.h b/include/a2_types.h
index 7788554..6d479be 100644
--- a/include/a2_types.h
+++ b/include/a2_types.h
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 /*
  * a2_types.h - Audiality 2 basic data types
  *
- * Copyright 2012-2016 David Olofson <david@olofson.net>
+ * Copyright 2012-2017 David Olofson <david@olofson.net>
  *
  * This software is provided 'as-is', without any express or implied warranty.
  * In no event will the authors be held liable for any damages arising from the
@@ -226,6 +226,7 @@ typedef enum A2_sampleformats
   A2_DEFERR(BADHEXESCAPE,	"Bad hex escape format in string literal")\
   A2_DEFERR(BADIFNEST,		"Nested 'if' without braces")\
   A2_DEFERR(BADELSE,		"Use of 'else' after non-braced statement")\
+  A2_DEFERR(BADLIBVERSION,	"Linked A2 lib incompatible with application")\
   \
   A2_DEFERR(CANTEXPORT,		"Cannot export from this scope")\
   A2_DEFERR(CANTINPUT,		"Unit cannot have inputs")\
diff --git a/include/audiality2.h.cmake b/include/audiality2.h.cmake
index 730d6ae..71d7ed4 100644
--- a/include/audiality2.h.cmake
+++ b/include/audiality2.h.cmake
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 /*
  * audiality2.h - Audiality 2 Realtime Scriptable Audio Engine
  *
- * Copyright 2010-2016 David Olofson <david@olofson.net>
+ * Copyright 2010-2017 David Olofson <david@olofson.net>
  *
  * This software is provided 'as-is', without any express or implied warranty.
  * In no event will the authors be held liable for any damages arising from the
@@ -122,8 +122,27 @@ unsigned a2_LinkedVersion(void);
  *	The 'flags' argument is only passed on to the driver 'flags' field when
  *	a driver is opened by the state! That is, flags are not passed on to a
  *	driver that is already open when a2_Open() is called.
+ *
+ * Version checking:
+ *	a2_OpenVersion() verifies that the linked library is compatible with
+ *	the header version specified by the application. If it is not, the call
+ *	will fail with A2_BADLIBVERSION, and return NULL.
+ *
+ *	a2_Open() automatically passes the version of the headers the
+ *	application is compiled against, which means that applications using
+ *	this call will not work with older library versions; only same or
+ *	newer.
+ *
+ *	When distributing binaries, it may be useful to specify the Audiality 2
+ *	version explicitly via a2_OpenVersion(), so that applications will not
+ *	be prevented from running with older libraries, unless they actually
+ *	need features added in later versions.
  */
-A2_interface *a2_Open(A2_config *config);
+A2_interface *a2_OpenVersion(A2_config *config, unsigned headerversion);
+static inline A2_interface *a2_Open(A2_config *config)
+{
+	return a2_OpenVersion(config, a2_HeaderVersion());
+}
 
 /*
  * Create a substate to the state behind interface 'master'.
diff --git a/src/audiality2.c b/src/audiality2.c
index 882b1c5..61bbfd5 100644
--- a/src/audiality2.c
+++ b/src/audiality2.c
@@ -514,12 +514,57 @@ static A2_errors a2_Open2(A2_state *st)
 }
 
 
-A2_interface *a2_Open(A2_config *config)
+static A2_errors a2_verify_version(unsigned headerversion)
+{
+	/* Major and minor versions need to match. */
+	if((A2_MAJOR(headerversion) == A2_MAJOR(A2_VERSION)) &&
+			(A2_MINOR(headerversion) == A2_MINOR(A2_VERSION)))
+	{
+		if(A2_MINOR(A2_VERSION) & 1)
+		{
+			/*
+			 * Development branches are assumed to break binary
+			 * compatibility with every micro release!
+			 */
+			if(A2_MICRO(headerversion) == A2_MICRO(A2_VERSION))
+				return A2_OK;
+		}
+		else
+		{
+			/*
+			 * Stable branch; lib needs to be of same or higher
+			 * micro version.
+			 */
+			if(A2_MICRO(headerversion) <= A2_MICRO(A2_VERSION))
+				return A2_OK;
+		}
+	}
+
+	/* Check failed! This will not work. */
+	fprintf(stderr, "CRITICAL: Incompatible Audiality library!\n");
+	fprintf(stderr, "This library is version %d.%d.%d.%d\n",
+			A2_MAJOR(A2_VERSION),
+			A2_MINOR(A2_VERSION),
+			A2_MICRO(A2_VERSION),
+			A2_BUILD(A2_VERSION));
+	fprintf(stderr, "Application is built for %d.%d.%d.%d\n",
+			A2_MAJOR(headerversion),
+			A2_MINOR(headerversion),
+			A2_MICRO(headerversion),
+			A2_BUILD(headerversion));
+	return A2_BADLIBVERSION;
+}
+
+
+A2_interface *a2_OpenVersion(A2_config *config, unsigned headerversion)
 {
 	A2_errors res;
 	A2_state *st;
 	A2_interface_i *j;
-	a2_last_error = A2_OK;
+
+	if((a2_last_error = a2_verify_version(headerversion)))
+		return NULL;
+
 	DUMPSIZES(
 		printf("A2_wave:\t%d\n", sizeof(A2_wave));
 		printf("A2_bank:\t%d\n", sizeof(A2_bank));