diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index e721e99c..73ef3868 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ libbtrfs_objects = send-stream.o send-utils.o rbtree.o btrfs-list.o crc32c.o \
 		   uuid-tree.o utils-lib.o
 libbtrfs_headers = send-stream.h send-utils.h send.h rbtree.h btrfs-list.h \
 	       crc32c.h list.h kerncompat.h radix-tree.h extent-cache.h \
-	       extent_io.h ioctl.h ctree.h btrfsck.h
+	       extent_io.h ioctl.h ctree.h btrfsck.h version.h
 TESTS = fsck-tests.sh convert-tests.sh
 
 INSTALL = install
diff --git a/send-stream.h b/send-stream.h
index 293bf6af..bedff4d0 100644
--- a/send-stream.h
+++ b/send-stream.h
@@ -18,6 +18,11 @@
 #ifndef SEND_STREAM_H_
 #define SEND_STREAM_H_
 
+/*
+ * NOTE: this file is public API, any incompatible change has to update
+ * library version
+ */
+
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 extern "C" {
 #endif
diff --git a/version.sh b/version.sh
index 90000019..2e4a8d9e 100644
--- a/version.sh
+++ b/version.sh
@@ -8,6 +8,10 @@
  
 v="v3.16"
 
+lib_major=0
+lib_minor=1
+lib_patchlevel=1
+
 which git &> /dev/null
 if [ $? == 0 -a -d .git ]; then
     if head=`git rev-parse --verify HEAD 2>/dev/null`; then
@@ -24,8 +28,19 @@ if [ $? == 0 -a -d .git ]; then
     fi
 fi
 
-echo "#ifndef __BUILD_VERSION" > .build-version.h
+echo "/* NOTE: this file is autogenerated by version.sh, do not edit */" > .build-version.h
+echo "#ifndef __BUILD_VERSION" >> .build-version.h
+echo >> .build-version.h
 echo "#define __BUILD_VERSION" >> .build-version.h
+echo >> .build-version.h
+echo "#define BTRFS_LIB_MAJOR $lib_major" >> .build-version.h
+echo "#define BTRFS_LIB_MINOR $lib_minor" >> .build-version.h
+echo "#define BTRFS_LIB_PATCHLEVEL $lib_patchlevel" >> .build-version.h
+echo >> .build-version.h
+echo "#define BTRFS_LIB_VERSION ( BTRFS_LIB_MAJOR * 10000 + \\" >> .build-version.h
+echo "                            BTRFS_LIB_MINOR * 100 + \\" >> .build-version.h
+echo "                            BTRFS_LIB_PATCHLEVEL )" >> .build-version.h
+echo >> .build-version.h
 echo "#define BTRFS_BUILD_VERSION \"Btrfs $v\"" >> .build-version.h
 echo "#endif" >> .build-version.h