diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 497988cc..7281cc9c 100755
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -262,14 +262,15 @@ class Setup():
             elif opts.opts['--freedom'][0].lower() in ('partial', 'sloppy', 'false', 'no'):
                 self.free = False
         if self.free is None:
-            print('')
-            print('You need to select your freedom, add --freedom=strict or --freedom=partial.')
-            print('')
-            print('--freedom=strict   will install only ponies that are completely free.')
-            print('--freedom=partial  will install all ponies, even if they are not free.')
-            print('')
-            print('')
-            exit(255)
+            if (opts.opts['--version'] is None) and ((len(opts.files) != 1) or (opts.files[0] != 'version')):
+                print('')
+                print('You need to select your freedom, add --freedom=strict or --freedom=partial.')
+                print('')
+                print('--freedom=strict   will install only ponies that are completely free.')
+                print('--freedom=partial  will install all ponies, even if they are not free.')
+                print('')
+                print('')
+                exit(255)
         
         
         if (opts.opts['---DESTDIR'] is not None) and (opts.opts['--dest-dir'] is None):