diff --git a/compat/build.py b/compat/build.py
index 549d30f5f..ddbb85dde 100755
--- a/compat/build.py
+++ b/compat/build.py
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ def main(argv):
     command.add_argument("role", help="project vs subproject", choices=["project", "subproject"])
     command.add_argument("builddir", help="build directory", type=Path)
     command.add_argument("top_builddir", help="top build directory", type=Path)
+    command.add_argument("frida_version", help="the Frida version")
     command.add_argument("host_os", help="operating system binaries are being built for")
     command.add_argument("host_arch", help="architecture binaries are being built for")
     command.add_argument("host_toolchain", help="the kind of toolchain being used",
@@ -43,6 +44,7 @@ def main(argv):
     command.set_defaults(func=lambda args: setup(args.role,
                                                  args.builddir,
                                                  args.top_builddir,
+                                                 args.frida_version,
                                                  args.host_os,
                                                  args.host_arch,
                                                  args.host_toolchain,
@@ -86,6 +88,7 @@ def parse_array_option_value(v: str) -> set[str]:
 def setup(role: Role,
           builddir: Path,
           top_builddir: Path,
+          frida_version: str,
           host_os: str,
           host_arch: str,
           host_toolchain: str,
@@ -224,7 +227,7 @@ def setup(role: Role,
                            target=AGENT_TARGET),
                 ]
 
-    state = State(role, builddir, top_builddir, host_os, host_arch, host_toolchain, outputs)
+    state = State(role, builddir, top_builddir, frida_version, host_os, host_arch, host_toolchain, outputs)
     serialized_state = base64.b64encode(pickle.dumps(state)).decode('ascii')
 
     variable_names, output_names = zip(*[(output.identifier, output.name) \
@@ -237,6 +240,7 @@ class State:
     role: Role
     builddir: Path
     top_builddir: Path
+    frida_version: str
     host_os: str
     host_arch: str
     host_toolchain: str
@@ -290,6 +294,9 @@ def call_internal_meson(argv, *args, **kwargs):
         if not (workdir / "build.ninja").exists():
             if options is None:
                 options = load_meson_options(state.top_builddir, state.role, set(subprojects.keys()))
+                version_opt = next((opt for opt in options if opt.startswith("-Dfrida_version=")), None)
+                if version_opt is None:
+                    options += [f"-Dfrida_version={state.frida_version}"]
 
             if state.host_os == "windows":
                 if state.host_toolchain == "microsoft":
diff --git a/compat/meson.build b/compat/meson.build
index 1ff7a0b7c..1c458e2af 100644
--- a/compat/meson.build
+++ b/compat/meson.build
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ if no_overridden_compat_bits
     meson.is_subproject() ? 'subproject' : 'project',
     meson.current_build_dir(),
     meson.global_build_root(),
+    frida_version,
     host_os,
     host_abi,
     host_toolchain,
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 3e6eb030d..ad2bcc897 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -13,9 +13,14 @@ Vala compiler from:
     https://github.com/frida/vala''')
 endif
 
+releng = meson.global_source_root() / 'releng'
+if not import('fs').exists(releng)
+  releng = meson.project_source_root() / 'releng'
+endif
+
 frida_version = get_option('frida_version')
 if frida_version == ''
-  frida_version = meson.project_version()
+  frida_version = run_command(releng / 'frida_version.py', meson.project_source_root(), check: true).stdout().strip()
 endif
 tokens = frida_version.split('.')
 frida_major_version = tokens[0].to_int()
@@ -554,10 +559,6 @@ if get_option('devkits').length() != 0
   if get_option('default_library') != 'static'
     error('Devkits can only be generated from static libraries')
   endif
-  releng = meson.global_source_root() / 'releng'
-  if not import('fs').exists(releng)
-    releng = meson.project_source_root() / 'releng'
-  endif
   mkdevkit = find_program(releng / 'mkdevkit.py')
   uninstalled_dir = meson.global_build_root() / 'meson-uninstalled'
   devkit_options = [