diff --git a/CHANGES.txt b/CHANGES.txt
index e938a74adb..ee2657ba1c 100644
--- a/CHANGES.txt
+++ b/CHANGES.txt
@@ -9,6 +9,10 @@ NOTE: 4.3.0 now requires Python 3.6.0 and above. Python 3.5.x is no longer suppo
 
 RELEASE  VERSION/DATE TO BE FILLED IN LATER
 
+  From Thaddeus Crews:
+    - GetSConsVersion() to grab the latest SCons version without needing to
+      dig into private functions.
+
   From Raymond Li:
     - Fix issue #3935: OSErrors are now no longer hidden during execution of
       Actions. All exceptions during the execution of an Action are now
diff --git a/RELEASE.txt b/RELEASE.txt
index 12d4b07940..650288043f 100644
--- a/RELEASE.txt
+++ b/RELEASE.txt
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ Here is a summary of the changes since 4.7.0:
 NEW FUNCTIONALITY
 -----------------
 
-- List new features (presumably why a checkpoint is being released)
+- GetSConsVersion() to grab the current SCons version from an exposed api.
 
 DEPRECATED FUNCTIONALITY
 ------------------------
diff --git a/SCons/Script/SConscript.py b/SCons/Script/SConscript.py
index 85070ab053..a2ef3b9d57 100644
--- a/SCons/Script/SConscript.py
+++ b/SCons/Script/SConscript.py
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@
 import sys
 import traceback
 import time
+from typing import Tuple
 
 class SConscriptReturn(Exception):
     pass
@@ -385,7 +386,7 @@ class SConsEnvironment(SCons.Environment.Base):
     # Private methods of an SConsEnvironment.
     #
     @staticmethod
-    def _get_major_minor_revision(version_string):
+    def _get_major_minor_revision(version_string: str) -> Tuple[int, int, int]:
         """Split a version string into major, minor and (optionally)
         revision parts.
 
@@ -484,15 +485,22 @@ def Default(self, *targets) -> None:
         SCons.Script._Set_Default_Targets(self, targets)
 
     @staticmethod
-    def EnsureSConsVersion(major, minor, revision: int=0) -> None:
+    def GetSConsVersion() -> Tuple[int, int, int]:
+        """Return the current SCons version.
+
+        .. versionadded:: 4.8.0
+        """
+        return SConsEnvironment._get_major_minor_revision(SCons.__version__)
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def EnsureSConsVersion(major: int, minor: int, revision: int = 0) -> None:
         """Exit abnormally if the SCons version is not late enough."""
         # split string to avoid replacement during build process
         if SCons.__version__ == '__' + 'VERSION__':
             SCons.Warnings.warn(SCons.Warnings.DevelopmentVersionWarning,
                 "EnsureSConsVersion is ignored for development version")
             return
-        scons_ver = SConsEnvironment._get_major_minor_revision(SCons.__version__)
-        if scons_ver < (major, minor, revision):
+        if SConsEnvironment.GetSConsVersion() < (major, minor, revision):
             if revision:
                 scons_ver_string = '%d.%d.%d' % (major, minor, revision)
             else:
diff --git a/SCons/Script/__init__.py b/SCons/Script/__init__.py
index a62650f7f6..ce0105573c 100644
--- a/SCons/Script/__init__.py
+++ b/SCons/Script/__init__.py
@@ -297,6 +297,7 @@ def Variables(files=None, args=ARGUMENTS):
 #
 # Static functions that do not trigger initialization of
 # DefaultEnvironment() and don't use its state.
+GetSConsVersion = _SConscript.SConsEnvironment.GetSConsVersion
 EnsureSConsVersion = _SConscript.SConsEnvironment.EnsureSConsVersion
 EnsurePythonVersion = _SConscript.SConsEnvironment.EnsurePythonVersion
 Exit = _SConscript.SConsEnvironment.Exit
diff --git a/test/EnsureSConsVersion.py b/test/EnsureSConsVersion.py
index 7eae2ad9cd..9da88d8b30 100644
--- a/test/EnsureSConsVersion.py
+++ b/test/EnsureSConsVersion.py
@@ -63,6 +63,14 @@
 
     test.run(status=2)
 
+    test.write('SConstruct', """\
+env = Environment()
+env.EnsureSConsVersion(env.GetSConsVersion())
+Exit(0)
+""")
+
+    test.run()
+
 
 
 test.write('SConstruct', """\
@@ -121,6 +129,12 @@
 
 test.run(status=2)
 
+test.write('SConstruct', """\
+import SCons
+EnsureSConsVersion(GetSConsVersion())
+""")
+
+test.run()
 
 
 test.pass_test()