diff --git a/src/web/WebSettingsService.cpp b/src/web/WebSettingsService.cpp
index 5923a0a97..5b3bd8c2c 100644
--- a/src/web/WebSettingsService.cpp
+++ b/src/web/WebSettingsService.cpp
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ WebSettingsService::WebSettingsService(AsyncWebServer * server, FS * fs, Securit
 }
 
 void WebSettings::read(WebSettings & settings, JsonObject & root) {
+    root["version"]               = settings.version;
     root["locale"]                = settings.locale;
     root["tx_mode"]               = settings.tx_mode;
     root["ems_bus_id"]            = settings.ems_bus_id;
@@ -82,7 +83,7 @@ void WebSettings::read(WebSettings & settings, JsonObject & root) {
 StateUpdateResult WebSettings::update(JsonObject & root, WebSettings & settings) {
     // load the version of the settings
     // will be picked up in System::check_upgrade()
-    settings.version = root["version"] || "";
+    settings.version = root["version"] || EMSESP_DEFAULT_VERSION;
 
     // load default GPIO configuration based on board profile
     std::vector<int8_t> data; //  // led, dallas, rx, tx, button, phy_type, eth_power, eth_phy_addr, eth_clock_mode