diff --git a/IPython/zmq/ipkernel.py b/IPython/zmq/ipkernel.py
index d37b5b4..259e944 100755
--- a/IPython/zmq/ipkernel.py
+++ b/IPython/zmq/ipkernel.py
@@ -61,6 +61,12 @@ from zmqshell import ZMQInteractiveShell
 # Main kernel class
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+# Change this when incrementing the kernel protocol version
+version_major = 1
+version_minor = 1
+version = '{0}.{1}'.format(version_major, version_minor)
+
+
 class Kernel(Configurable):
 
     #---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -156,6 +162,7 @@ class Kernel(Configurable):
         # Build dict of handlers for message types
         msg_types = [ 'execute_request', 'complete_request',
                       'object_info_request', 'history_request',
+                      'version_request',
                       'connect_request', 'shutdown_request',
                       'apply_request',
                     ]
@@ -509,6 +516,16 @@ class Kernel(Configurable):
                                 content, parent, ident)
         self.log.debug("%s", msg)
 
+    def version_request(self, stream, ident, parent):
+        vinfo = {
+            'version': version,
+            'version_major': version_major,
+            'version_minor': version_minor,
+        }
+        msg = self.session.send(stream, 'version_reply',
+                                vinfo, parent, ident)
+        self.log.debug("%s", msg)
+
     def shutdown_request(self, stream, ident, parent):
         self.shell.exit_now = True
         content = dict(status='ok')