diff --git a/dtool/src/dtoolutil/pandaSystem.cxx b/dtool/src/dtoolutil/pandaSystem.cxx
index 3337cb96dc..cb03bd9cf8 100644
--- a/dtool/src/dtoolutil/pandaSystem.cxx
+++ b/dtool/src/dtoolutil/pandaSystem.cxx
@@ -56,6 +56,27 @@ get_version_string() {
   return PANDA_VERSION_STR;
 }
 
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//     Function: PandaSystem::get_package_version_string
+//       Access: Published, Static
+//  Description: Returns the version of the Panda3D distributable
+//               package associated with this build.  This version
+//               string is set by the builder at compile time;
+//               presumably the person who sets this is also
+//               responsible for building the indicated distributable
+//               package version.
+//
+//               If this string is empty, there is no distributable
+//               package associated with this build, and you should
+//               probably use a different build of Panda3D to generate
+//               your distributable applications to ensure
+//               compatibility.
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+string PandaSystem::
+get_package_version_string() {
+  return PANDA_PACKAGE_VERSION_STR;
+}
+
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //     Function: PandaSystem::get_major_version
 //       Access: Published, Static
diff --git a/dtool/src/dtoolutil/pandaSystem.h b/dtool/src/dtoolutil/pandaSystem.h
index af4d081c3f..80c5c25406 100644
--- a/dtool/src/dtoolutil/pandaSystem.h
+++ b/dtool/src/dtoolutil/pandaSystem.h
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ protected:
 
 PUBLISHED:
   static string get_version_string();
+  static string get_package_version_string();
 
   static int get_major_version();
   static int get_minor_version();
diff --git a/dtool/src/dtoolutil/pandaVersion.h.pp b/dtool/src/dtoolutil/pandaVersion.h.pp
index 50ca55392a..c1a7e1cc0e 100644
--- a/dtool/src/dtoolutil/pandaVersion.h.pp
+++ b/dtool/src/dtoolutil/pandaVersion.h.pp
@@ -60,6 +60,11 @@ $[cdefine PANDA_OFFICIAL_VERSION]
 /* This is a string indicating who has provided this distribution. */
 # define PANDA_DISTRIBUTOR "$[PANDA_DISTRIBUTOR]"
 
+/* The string indicating the version number of the associated Panda3D
+   distributable package, or empty string if there is no associated
+   package. */
+# define PANDA_PACKAGE_VERSION_STR "$[PANDA_PACKAGE_VERSION]"
+
 #end pandaVersion.h