diff --git a/numpy/tests/test_numpy_version.py b/numpy/tests/test_numpy_version.py
index 28595026e212..bccbcb8e9cf7 100644
--- a/numpy/tests/test_numpy_version.py
+++ b/numpy/tests/test_numpy_version.py
@@ -32,3 +32,13 @@ def test_valid_numpy_version():
         res = re.match(version_pattern + dev_suffix + '$', np.__version__)
 
     assert_(res is not None, np.__version__)
+
+
+def test_short_version():
+    # Check numpy.short_version actually exists
+    if np.version.release:
+        assert_(np.__version__ == np.version.short_version,
+                "short_version mismatch in release version")
+    else:
+        assert_(np.__version__.split("+")[0] == np.version.short_version,
+                "short_version mismatch in development version")
diff --git a/numpy/version.py b/numpy/version.py
index 48bdb32dac07..4159a1c0eb82 100644
--- a/numpy/version.py
+++ b/numpy/version.py
@@ -7,5 +7,6 @@
 full_version: str = vinfo['version']
 git_revision: str = vinfo['full-revisionid']
 release = 'dev0' not in version and '+' not in version
+short_version: str = vinfo['version'].split("+")[0]
 
 del get_versions, vinfo