diff --git a/packages/debugger-shell/src/electron/index.flow.js b/packages/debugger-shell/src/electron/index.flow.js
index 4dc67035f81..a07b0fc2afa 100644
--- a/packages/debugger-shell/src/electron/index.flow.js
+++ b/packages/debugger-shell/src/electron/index.flow.js
@@ -10,6 +10,22 @@
 
 // $FlowFixMe[unclear-type] We have no Flow types for the Electron API.
 const {app} = require('electron') as any;
+const util = require('util');
+
+// Handle global command line arguments which don't require a window
+// or the single instance lock to be held.
+const {
+  values: {version = false},
+} = util.parseArgs({
+  options: {version: {type: 'boolean'}},
+  args: process.argv.slice(app.isPackaged ? 1 : 2),
+  strict: false,
+});
+if (version) {
+  console.log(`${app.getName()} v${app.getVersion()}`);
+  // Not app.quit() - we want to exit immediately without initialising the graphical subsystem.
+  app.exit(0);
+}
 
 const gotTheLock = app.requestSingleInstanceLock({
   argv: process.argv.slice(2),