diff --git a/src/main/java/org/qortal/controller/Controller.java b/src/main/java/org/qortal/controller/Controller.java
index 253dee03..b930c6ee 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/qortal/controller/Controller.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/qortal/controller/Controller.java
@@ -312,6 +312,10 @@ public class Controller extends Thread {
 		return this.buildVersion;
 	}
 
+	public String getVersionStringWithoutPrefix() {
+		return this.buildVersion.replaceFirst(VERSION_PREFIX, "");
+	}
+
 	/** Returns current blockchain height, or 0 if it's not available. */
 	public int getChainHeight() {
 		synchronized (this.latestBlocks) {
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/qortal/gui/SplashFrame.java b/src/main/java/org/qortal/gui/SplashFrame.java
index 967377d1..03408757 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/qortal/gui/SplashFrame.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/qortal/gui/SplashFrame.java
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import javax.swing.*;
 
 import org.apache.logging.log4j.LogManager;
 import org.apache.logging.log4j.Logger;
+import org.qortal.controller.Controller;
 
 public class SplashFrame {
 
@@ -39,7 +40,8 @@ public class SplashFrame {
 			add(imageLabel);
 
 			// Add status label
-			statusLabel = new JLabel("Starting Qortal Core...", JLabel.CENTER);
+			String text = String.format("Starting Qortal Core v%s...", Controller.getInstance().getVersionStringWithoutPrefix());
+			statusLabel = new JLabel(text, JLabel.CENTER);
 			statusLabel.setMaximumSize(new Dimension(500, 50));
 			statusLabel.setFont(new Font("Verdana", Font.PLAIN, 22));
 			statusLabel.setBackground(new Color(255, 255, 255));
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/qortal/repository/hsqldb/HSQLDBDatabaseUpdates.java b/src/main/java/org/qortal/repository/hsqldb/HSQLDBDatabaseUpdates.java
index 62f75a7e..e28e9114 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/qortal/repository/hsqldb/HSQLDBDatabaseUpdates.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/qortal/repository/hsqldb/HSQLDBDatabaseUpdates.java
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import java.util.stream.Collectors;
 
 import org.apache.logging.log4j.LogManager;
 import org.apache.logging.log4j.Logger;
+import org.qortal.controller.Controller;
 import org.qortal.controller.tradebot.BitcoinACCTv1TradeBot;
 import org.qortal.gui.SplashFrame;
 
@@ -33,7 +34,8 @@ public class HSQLDBDatabaseUpdates {
 		while (databaseUpdating(connection, wasPristine))
 			incrementDatabaseVersion(connection);
 
-		SplashFrame.getInstance().updateStatus("Starting Qortal Core...");
+		String text = String.format("Starting Qortal Core v%s...", Controller.getInstance().getVersionStringWithoutPrefix());
+		SplashFrame.getInstance().updateStatus(text);
 
 		return wasPristine;
 	}