diff --git a/Core.json b/Core.json
index 0a2a6a3f..4726680a 100644
--- a/Core.json
+++ b/Core.json
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 {
   "slug": "Core",
   "name": "VCV Core",
-  "version": "2.6.0",
   "license": "GPL-3.0-or-later",
   "author": "VCV",
   "brand": "VCV",
diff --git a/src/plugin.cpp b/src/plugin.cpp
index fefa46d8..3be598cb 100644
--- a/src/plugin.cpp
+++ b/src/plugin.cpp
@@ -133,7 +133,11 @@ static Plugin* loadPlugin(std::string path) {
 		INFO("Loading plugin from %s", path.c_str());
 
 	Plugin* plugin = new Plugin;
+
 	try {
+		if (path == "")
+			plugin->version = APP_VERSION;
+
 		// Set plugin path
 		plugin->path = (path == "") ? asset::systemDir : path;
 
diff --git a/src/plugin/Plugin.cpp b/src/plugin/Plugin.cpp
index 2f5a98ea..5480b11d 100644
--- a/src/plugin/Plugin.cpp
+++ b/src/plugin/Plugin.cpp
@@ -48,10 +48,10 @@ void Plugin::fromJson(json_t* rootJ) {
 	json_t* versionJ = json_object_get(rootJ, "version");
 	if (versionJ)
 		version = json_string_value(versionJ);
-	if (!string::startsWith(version, APP_VERSION_MAJOR + "."))
-		throw Exception("Plugin version %s does not match Rack ABI version %s", version.c_str(), APP_VERSION_MAJOR.c_str());
 	if (version == "")
 		throw Exception("No plugin version");
+	if (!string::startsWith(version, APP_VERSION_MAJOR + "."))
+		throw Exception("Plugin version %s does not match Rack ABI version %s", version.c_str(), APP_VERSION_MAJOR.c_str());
 
 	// name
 	json_t* nameJ = json_object_get(rootJ, "name");