diff --git a/reflash/screen.go b/reflash/screen.go
index 0d672b9..f87e3ef 100644
--- a/reflash/screen.go
+++ b/reflash/screen.go
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ func ScreenInit() {
 
 	img = image.NewRGBA(image.Rect(0, 0, fb_min, fb_min))
 	ips := make([]string, 0)
-	Draw(0, "IDLE", 0, ips)
+	Draw(0, "IDLE", 0, ips, "")
 }
 
 func ScreenClose() {
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ func ScreenClose() {
 }
 
 // TODO: This is horrobly inefficient and should be optimized.
-func Draw(progress float32, state string, rot int, ips []string) {
+func Draw(progress float32, state string, rot int, ips []string, version string) {
 	// No framebuffer mapped → ScreenInit either failed (headless) or was
 	// never called (tests). Skip rendering entirely; updateDisplay still
 	// keeps its bookkeeping in sync.
@@ -116,6 +116,12 @@ func Draw(progress float32, state string, rot int, ips []string) {
 		for i, s := range ips {
 			drawText(img, s, 20, (fb_min/2)+125+(20*i))
 		}
+		// The screen is sometimes the only information available (e.g. no
+		// network reachable yet) - show the running version so it's visible
+		// without needing the web UI.
+		if version != "" {
+			drawText(img, version, 16, (fb_min/2)+125+(20*len(ips))+20)
+		}
 	} else {
 		if fb_min > 700 {
 			drawLogo(img, (fb_min/2)-250)
diff --git a/reflash/server.go b/reflash/server.go
index fb9c035..31b3cce 100644
--- a/reflash/server.go
+++ b/reflash/server.go
@@ -149,6 +149,7 @@ var images_folder string
 var options_file string
 var log_file string
 var http_port string
+var reflashVersion string
 
 var last_size_check time.Time
 var bytes_last int
@@ -201,6 +202,8 @@ func ServerInit() {
 		BytesTotal: 1,
 	}
 
+	reflashVersion = runCommandReturnString("get-reflash-version")
+
 	logInfo("-- Server started at " + time.Now().Format("15:04:05") + " --")
 	expandUsb()
 	mountUsb(MODE_RO)
@@ -220,10 +223,8 @@ func ServerInit() {
 		updateDisplay()
 	}()
 
-	version := runCommandReturnString("get-reflash-version")
-
 	fs := http.FileServer(http.Dir(static_dir))
-	fmt.Println("Starting Reflash go server " + version + " env '" + env + "'")
+	fmt.Println("Starting Reflash go server " + reflashVersion + " env '" + env + "'")
 	http.Handle("/", fs)
 	http.HandleFunc("/api/get_info", getInfo)
 	http.HandleFunc("/api/stream_log", streamLog)
@@ -471,7 +472,7 @@ func updateDisplay() {
 	}
 	state.Lock()
 	if oldState.State != state.State || oldState.Progress != state.Progress || oldRotation != options.ScreenRotation || !slices.Equal(oldState.IPs, state.IPs) {
-		Draw(float32(state.Progress)/100, state.State, options.ScreenRotation, state.IPs)
+		Draw(float32(state.Progress)/100, state.State, options.ScreenRotation, state.IPs, reflashVersion)
 		oldState.State = state.State
 		oldState.Progress = state.Progress
 		oldRotation = options.ScreenRotation