diff --git a/command/root.go b/command/root.go
index 6bf99c229..77cb51a48 100644
--- a/command/root.go
+++ b/command/root.go
@@ -20,9 +20,13 @@ var Version = "DEV"
 // BuildDate is dynamically set at build time in the Makefile
 var BuildDate = "YYYY-MM-DD"
 
+var versionOutput = ""
+
 func init() {
 	RootCmd.Version = fmt.Sprintf("%s (%s)", strings.TrimPrefix(Version, "v"), BuildDate)
+	versionOutput = fmt.Sprintf("gh version %s\n%s\n", RootCmd.Version, changelogURL(RootCmd.Version))
 	RootCmd.AddCommand(versionCmd)
+	RootCmd.SetVersionTemplate(versionOutput)
 
 	RootCmd.PersistentFlags().StringP("repo", "R", "", "Select another repository using the `OWNER/REPO` format")
 	RootCmd.PersistentFlags().Bool("help", false, "Show help for command")
@@ -57,7 +61,7 @@ var versionCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Use:    "version",
 	Hidden: true,
 	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
-		fmt.Printf("gh version %s\n%s\n", RootCmd.Version, changelogURL(RootCmd.Version))
+		fmt.Printf(versionOutput)
 	},
 }