diff --git a/router/java/src/net/i2p/data/router/RouterInfo.java b/router/java/src/net/i2p/data/router/RouterInfo.java
index fcd807a345850cd3c5ff783b18bbec1ea48d5ada..b0ff1ffd5e377646cb311902998bcd74fefea4ab 100644
--- a/router/java/src/net/i2p/data/router/RouterInfo.java
+++ b/router/java/src/net/i2p/data/router/RouterInfo.java
@@ -261,6 +261,18 @@ public class RouterInfo extends DatabaseEntry {
         return _options.getProperty(opt);
     }
 
+    /**
+     * For convenience, the same as getOption("router.version"),
+     * but returns "0" if unset.
+     *
+     * @return non-null, "0" if unknown.
+     * @since 0.9.18
+     */
+    public String getVersion() {
+        String rv = _options.getProperty("router.version");
+        return rv != null ? rv : "0";
+    }
+
     /**
      * Configure a set of options or statistics that the router can expose.
      * Makes a copy.