diff --git a/cmake/qibuild/qibuild-config.cmake b/cmake/qibuild/qibuild-config.cmake
index aa1820320..72b5b444c 100644
--- a/cmake/qibuild/qibuild-config.cmake
+++ b/cmake/qibuild/qibuild-config.cmake
@@ -12,6 +12,12 @@ if(EXISTS ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/dependencies.cmake)
   include(${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/dependencies.cmake)
 endif()
 
+# If someone is using qibuild configure, includes
+# the project.cmake file
+if(EXISTS ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/project.cmake)
+  include(${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/project.cmake)
+endif()
+
 # remove qi_tests.json
 # Note:
 #  this will fail silently if the file does not exist
diff --git a/python/qibuild/cmake_builder.py b/python/qibuild/cmake_builder.py
index c1c5f9874..49cf1dc30 100644
--- a/python/qibuild/cmake_builder.py
+++ b/python/qibuild/cmake_builder.py
@@ -105,13 +105,14 @@ def bootstrap_projects(self):
         """
         projects = self.deps_solver.get_dep_projects(self.projects,
                                                      ["build", "runtime", "test"])
-        # subtle diffs here: dependencies.cmake must be written for *all* projects,
-        # with the build dependencies
+        # subtle diffs here: dependencies.cmake and project.cmake must be written
+        # for *all* projects, with the build dependencies
         for project in projects:
             sdk_dirs = self.get_sdk_dirs_for_project(project)
             host_dirs = self.get_host_dirs(project)
             if not project.meta:
                 project.write_dependencies_cmake(sdk_dirs, host_dirs=host_dirs)
+                project.write_project_cmake()
 
     def get_sdk_dirs_for_project(self, project):
         sdk_dirs = self.deps_solver.get_sdk_dirs(project, ["build", "test"])
diff --git a/python/qibuild/project.py b/python/qibuild/project.py
index b07d792b6..77bdb7031 100644
--- a/python/qibuild/project.py
+++ b/python/qibuild/project.py
@@ -177,6 +177,24 @@ def using_make(self):
     def verbose_make(self):
         return self.build_config.verbose_make
 
+    def write_project_cmake(self):
+        """ Write the project.cmake file. This will be read by
+        qibuild-config.cmake to set QI_PROJECT_VERSION.
+        """
+        to_write = """
+#############################################
+#QIBUILD AUTOGENERATED FILE. DO NOT EDIT.
+#############################################
+
+# Add qiproject version to CMake
+set(QI_PROJECT_VERSION %s CACHE STRING "" FORCE)
+""" % self.version 
+
+
+        qisys.sh.mkdir(self.build_directory, recursive=True)
+        proj_cmake = os.path.join(self.build_directory, "project.cmake")
+        qisys.sh.write_file_if_different(to_write, proj_cmake)
+
     def write_dependencies_cmake(self, sdk_dirs, host_dirs=None):
         """ Write the dependencies.cmake file. This will be read by
         qibuild-config.cmake to set CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH and
diff --git a/python/qibuild/test/test_project.py b/python/qibuild/test/test_project.py
index 8a8c70a4e..e549a2c3c 100644
--- a/python/qibuild/test/test_project.py
+++ b/python/qibuild/test/test_project.py
@@ -14,6 +14,15 @@
 
 import pytest
 
+def test_project_cmake(build_worktree):
+    hello_proj = build_worktree.create_project("hello")
+    hello_proj.write_project_cmake()
+    proj_cmake = os.path.join(hello_proj.build_directory,
+                              "project.cmake")
+    # only way to check this really works is to build some
+    # cmake projects, so no other assertions here
+    assert os.path.exists(proj_cmake)
+
 def test_dependencies_cmake(build_worktree):
     hello_proj = build_worktree.create_project("hello")
     hello_proj.write_dependencies_cmake(list())