diff --git a/features/site_data.feature b/features/site_data.feature
index ccb349c6..9ab94056 100644
--- a/features/site_data.feature
+++ b/features/site_data.feature
@@ -99,3 +99,9 @@ Feature: Site data
     When I run jekyll
     Then the _site directory should exist
     And I should see "http://mysite.com" in "_site/index.html"
+
+  Scenario: Access Jekyll version via jekyll.version
+    Given I have an "index.html" page that contains "{{ jekyll.version }}"
+    When I run jekyll
+    Then the _site directory should exist
+    And I should see "\d+\.\d+\.\d+" in "_site/index.html"
diff --git a/lib/jekyll/site.rb b/lib/jekyll/site.rb
index 9be1e0ae..f4a5bd0d 100644
--- a/lib/jekyll/site.rb
+++ b/lib/jekyll/site.rb
@@ -266,7 +266,8 @@ module Jekyll
     #   "tags"       - The Hash of tag values and Posts.
     #                  See Site#post_attr_hash for type info.
     def site_payload
-      {"site" => self.config.merge({
+      {"jekyll" => { "version" => Jekyll::VERSION },
+       "site" => self.config.merge({
           "time"       => self.time,
           "posts"      => self.posts.sort { |a, b| b <=> a },
           "pages"      => self.pages,