diff --git a/src/cli.rs b/src/cli.rs
index cf8a99c..f07903f 100644
--- a/src/cli.rs
+++ b/src/cli.rs
@@ -24,6 +24,10 @@ pub(crate) struct Cli {
     #[arg(short = 'n', long = "dry-run", default_value_t = false)]
     pub(crate) dry_run: bool,
 
+    /// Current version
+    #[arg(long = "current-version", value_name = "VERSION")]
+    pub(crate) current_version: Option<String>,
+
     /// New version that should be in the files.
     #[arg(long = "new-version", value_name = "VERSION")]
     pub(crate) new_version: Option<String>,
diff --git a/src/config.rs b/src/config.rs
index 125da3f..a2e0e1d 100644
--- a/src/config.rs
+++ b/src/config.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ use serde_derive::Deserialize;
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Deserialize)]
 pub(crate) struct Config {
-    pub(crate) current_version: String,
+    pub(crate) current_version: Option<String>,
     pub(crate) message: Option<String>,
     pub(crate) commit: bool,
     pub(crate) tag: bool,
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 04d00fd..45903fd 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -38,12 +38,23 @@ fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
         }
     };
 
-    let current_version = config.current_version.clone();
-
-    let attempted_new_version = args
-        .new_version
+    let current_version = args
+        .current_version
         .clone()
-        .or(attempt_version_bump(args.clone(), config.clone()));
+        .or(config.current_version.clone());
+
+    if current_version.is_none() {
+        error!("No current version could be determined, either set in config or pass as arg");
+        exit(1);
+    }
+
+    let current_version = current_version.unwrap();
+
+    let attempted_new_version = args.new_version.clone().or(attempt_version_bump(
+        args.clone(),
+        config.clone(),
+        current_version.clone(),
+    ));
 
     if attempted_new_version.is_some() {
         let new_version = attempted_new_version.clone().unwrap();
diff --git a/src/utils.rs b/src/utils.rs
index ddd68fb..15d0606 100644
--- a/src/utils.rs
+++ b/src/utils.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,11 @@ use std::collections::HashMap;
 use std::ops::Index;
 use tracing::{error, trace};
 
-pub(crate) fn attempt_version_bump(args: Cli, config: Config) -> Option<String> {
+pub(crate) fn attempt_version_bump(
+    args: Cli,
+    config: Config,
+    current_version: String,
+) -> Option<String> {
     let parse_regex = config.parse;
     let regex = match Regex::new(&parse_regex) {
         Ok(r) => r,
@@ -16,7 +20,6 @@ pub(crate) fn attempt_version_bump(args: Cli, config: Config) -> Option<String>
         }
     };
 
-    let current_version = config.current_version;
     let mut parsed: HashMap<String, String> = HashMap::new();
 
     if let Some(captures) = regex.captures(&current_version) {