diff --git a/.changeset/neat-papers-scream.md b/.changeset/neat-papers-scream.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7b714e9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/neat-papers-scream.md
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+---
+"@bunny.net/cli": patch
+---
+
+Fix `bunny --version` failing with "Unknown argument: version". The
+update-check work in a previous release switched yargs to `.version(false)`
+plus a manual `--version` option, which interacts badly with strict mode.
+The `--version` flag is now intercepted before yargs parses, so the latest
+version is still fetched and an upgrade hint shown when outdated.
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/cli.ts b/packages/cli/src/cli.ts
index 625ca66..6f85267 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/cli.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/cli.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@ import { registriesNamespace } from "./commands/registries/index.ts";
 import { scriptsNamespace } from "./commands/scripts/index.ts";
 import { whoamiCommand } from "./commands/whoami.ts";
 import { logger } from "./core/logger.ts";
-import { getLatestVersion } from "./core/update-check.ts";
 import { VERSION } from "./core/version.ts";
 
 const commands: CommandModule[] = [
@@ -37,12 +36,7 @@ const experimentalCommands: CommandModule[] = [
 
 let instance = yargs(hideBin(process.argv))
   .scriptName("bunny")
-  .version(false)
-  .option("version", {
-    type: "boolean",
-    describe: "Show version number",
-    global: false,
-  })
+  .version(`${VERSION} ${process.platform}-${process.arch}`)
   .usage("$0 <command> [options]")
 
   .option("profile", {
@@ -82,19 +76,7 @@ export const cli = instance
     "$0",
     false as never,
     () => {},
-    async (argv) => {
-      if (argv.version) {
-        console.log(`${VERSION} ${process.platform}-${process.arch}`);
-        const latest = await getLatestVersion();
-        if (latest && latest !== VERSION) {
-          console.log(
-            `\nUpdate available: ${VERSION} → ${latest}` +
-              `\nRun: npm install -g @bunny.net/cli`,
-          );
-        }
-        return;
-      }
-
+    () => {
       const bunny = chalk.hex("#fb8827");
       const art = `
                   @@@@                                                                                                              
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/index.ts b/packages/cli/src/index.ts
index 5505323..c4ebbf6 100755
--- a/packages/cli/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/index.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,21 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bun
 
 import { cli } from "./cli.ts";
-import { checkForUpdate } from "./core/update-check.ts";
+import { checkForUpdate, getLatestVersion } from "./core/update-check.ts";
+import { VERSION } from "./core/version.ts";
+
+const args = process.argv.slice(2);
+if (args.includes("--version") || args.includes("-V")) {
+  console.log(`${VERSION} ${process.platform}-${process.arch}`);
+  const latest = await getLatestVersion();
+  if (latest && latest !== VERSION) {
+    console.log(
+      `\nUpdate available: ${VERSION} → ${latest}` +
+        `\nRun: npm install -g @bunny.net/cli`,
+    );
+  }
+  process.exit(0);
+}
 
 await cli.parse();
 await checkForUpdate();