diff --git a/confluent_kafka/__init__.py b/confluent_kafka/__init__.py
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/confluent_kafka/__init__.py
+++ b/confluent_kafka/__init__.py
@@ -14,3 +14,6 @@ from .cimpl import (Consumer,  # noqa
                     OFFSET_END,
                     OFFSET_STORED,
                     OFFSET_INVALID)
+
+
+__version__ = version()[0]
diff --git a/tests/test_misc.py b/tests/test_misc.py
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/tests/test_misc.py
+++ b/tests/test_misc.py
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ def test_version():
     assert len(sver) > 0
     assert iver > 0
 
+    assert confluent_kafka.version()[0] == confluent_kafka.__version__
+
 
 # global variable for error_cb call back function
 seen_error_cb = False
Add __version__ to __init__.py

This is a common convention within Python libraries