diff --git a/config/functions b/config/functions
index a87c9ac35e..bd09f3bda5 100644
--- a/config/functions
+++ b/config/functions
@@ -65,6 +65,11 @@ kernel_path() {
   echo $ROOT/$BUILD/${PKG_NAME}-${PKG_VERSION}
 }
 
+kernel_version() {
+  . $ROOT/packages/linux/package.mk
+  echo ${PKG_VERSION}
+}
+
 # get package's build dir
 get_build_dir() {
   if [ ! -z $1 ] ; then