diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 0098f3e4..d5fd9d46 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
         "@typescript-eslint/parser": "^7.2.0",
         "chalk": "^5.3.0",
         "cli-table3": "^0.6.3",
-        "commander": "^11.1.0",
+        "commander": "^12.0.0",
         "fast-glob": "^3.3.2",
         "fast-memoize": "^2.5.2",
         "find-up": "5.0.0",
@@ -2778,11 +2778,11 @@
       }
     },
     "node_modules/commander": {
-      "version": "11.1.0",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/commander/-/commander-11.1.0.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-yPVavfyCcRhmorC7rWlkHn15b4wDVgVmBA7kV4QVBsF7kv/9TKJAbAXVTxvTnwP8HHKjRCJDClKbciiYS7p0DQ==",
+      "version": "12.0.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/commander/-/commander-12.0.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-MwVNWlYjDTtOjX5PiD7o5pK0UrFU/OYgcJfjjK4RaHZETNtjJqrZa9Y9ds88+A+f+d5lv+561eZ+yCKoS3gbAA==",
       "engines": {
-        "node": ">=16"
+        "node": ">=18"
       }
     },
     "node_modules/comment-parser": {
@@ -5828,6 +5828,15 @@
         "node": ">=18"
       }
     },
+    "node_modules/markdownlint-cli/node_modules/commander": {
+      "version": "11.1.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/commander/-/commander-11.1.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-yPVavfyCcRhmorC7rWlkHn15b4wDVgVmBA7kV4QVBsF7kv/9TKJAbAXVTxvTnwP8HHKjRCJDClKbciiYS7p0DQ==",
+      "dev": true,
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=16"
+      }
+    },
     "node_modules/markdownlint-cli/node_modules/get-stdin": {
       "version": "9.0.0",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/get-stdin/-/get-stdin-9.0.0.tgz",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index aa9cdb5a..241f9146 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@
     "@typescript-eslint/parser": "^7.2.0",
     "chalk": "^5.3.0",
     "cli-table3": "^0.6.3",
-    "commander": "^11.1.0",
+    "commander": "^12.0.0",
     "fast-glob": "^3.3.2",
     "fast-memoize": "^2.5.2",
     "find-up": "5.0.0",
diff --git a/src/bin/cli.ts b/src/bin/cli.ts
index f63e3c6f..fde8b6e2 100755
--- a/src/bin/cli.ts
+++ b/src/bin/cli.ts
@@ -100,8 +100,6 @@ ${chalk.dim.underline(
   program
     .description('[filter] is a list or regex of package names to check (all others will be ignored).')
     .usage('[options] [filter]')
-    // add hidden -v alias for --V/--version
-    .addOption(new Commander.Option('-v, --version').hideHelp())
     // See: boolean optional arg below
     .configureHelp({
       optionTerm: option =>
@@ -117,6 +115,12 @@ ${chalk.dim.underline(
             ? `You're lookin' at it.`
             : Help.prototype.optionDescription(option),
     })
+    // add hidden -v alias for --V/--version
+    .addOption(new Commander.Option('-v, --versionAlias').hideHelp())
+    .on('option:versionAlias', () => {
+      console.info(pkg.version)
+      process.exit(0)
+    })
 
   // add cli options
   cliOptions.forEach(({ long, short, arg, description, default: defaultValue, help, parse, type }) => {