diff --git a/starling/src/starling/utils/SystemUtil.as b/starling/src/starling/utils/SystemUtil.as
index 2d81e6488..37329832d 100644
--- a/starling/src/starling/utils/SystemUtil.as
+++ b/starling/src/starling/utils/SystemUtil.as
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ package starling.utils
         private static var sPlatform:String;
         private static var sDesktop:Boolean;
         private static var sVersion:String;
+        private static var sApplicationVersion:String;
         private static var sAIR:Boolean;
         private static var sEmbeddedFonts:Array = null;
         private static var sSupportsDepthAndStencil:Boolean = true;
@@ -60,6 +61,7 @@ package starling.utils
                 var ds:String = appDescriptor.ns::initialWindow.ns::depthAndStencil.toString().toLowerCase();
 
                 sSupportsDepthAndStencil = (ds == "true");
+                sApplicationVersion = appDescriptor.ns::versionNumber;
                 sAIR = true;
             }
             catch (e:Error)
@@ -141,6 +143,13 @@ package starling.utils
             initialize();
             return sVersion;
         }
+        
+        /** Returns the application version number setup in the <em>*-app.xml</em>. */
+        public static function get applicationVersion():String
+        {
+            initialize();
+            return sApplicationVersion;
+        }
 
         /** Returns the value of the 'initialWindow.depthAndStencil' node of the application
          *  descriptor, if this in an AIR app; otherwise always <code>true</code>. */
@@ -194,4 +203,4 @@ package starling.utils
             return false;
         }
     }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}