diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index bb818bf13..583ca0614 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
   * Support for sequences.
   * Support for `shortestRotation` in animation state. See https://github.com/esotericsoftware/spine-runtimes/issues/2027.
   * Added CMake parameter `SPINE_SANITIZE` which will enable sanitizers on macOS and Linux.
+  * Added `SPINE_MAJOR_VERSION`, `SPINE_MINOR_VERSION`, and `SPINE_VERSION_STRING`. Parsing skeleton .JSON and .skel files will report an error if the skeleton version does not match the runtime version.
 * **Breaking changes**
   * `spRegionAttachment` and `spMeshAttachment` now contain a `spTextureRegion*` instead of encoding region fields directly.
   * `sp_AttachmentLoader_newRegionAttachment()` and `spAttachmentLoader_newMeshAttachment()` now take an additional `Sequence*` parameter.
@@ -24,6 +25,7 @@
   * Support for sequences.
   * Support for `shortestRotation` in animation state. See https://github.com/esotericsoftware/spine-runtimes/issues/2027.
   * Added CMake parameter `SPINE_SANITIZE` which will enable sanitizers on macOS and Linux.
+    * Added `SPINE_MAJOR_VERSION`, `SPINE_MINOR_VERSION`, and `SPINE_VERSION_STRING`. Parsing skeleton .JSON and .skel files will report an error if the skeleton version does not match the runtime version.
 * **Breaking changes**
   * `RegionAttachment` and `MeshAttachment` now contain a `TextureRegion*` instead of encoding region fields directly.
   * `AttachmentLoader::newRegionAttachment()` and `AttachmentLoader::newMeshAttachment()` now take an additional `Sequence*` parameter.
diff --git a/spine-cpp/spine-cpp/include/spine/SpineString.h b/spine-cpp/spine-cpp/include/spine/SpineString.h
index 09a1b7493..a0796ddc4 100644
--- a/spine-cpp/spine-cpp/include/spine/SpineString.h
+++ b/spine-cpp/spine-cpp/include/spine/SpineString.h
@@ -182,6 +182,14 @@ namespace spine {
 			return *this;
 		}
 
+		bool startsWith(const String &needle) {
+			if (needle.length() > length()) return false;
+			for (int i = 0; i < (int)needle.length(); i++) {
+				if (buffer()[i] != needle.buffer()[i]) return false;
+			}
+			return true;
+		}
+
 		friend bool operator==(const String &a, const String &b) {
 			if (a._buffer == b._buffer) return true;
 			if (a._length != b._length) return false;
diff --git a/spine-cpp/spine-cpp/include/spine/Version.h b/spine-cpp/spine-cpp/include/spine/Version.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1822b6240
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spine-cpp/spine-cpp/include/spine/Version.h
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+/******************************************************************************
+ * Spine Runtimes License Agreement
+ * Last updated September 24, 2021. Replaces all prior versions.
+ *
+ * Copyright (c) 2013-2021, Esoteric Software LLC
+ *
+ * Integration of the Spine Runtimes into software or otherwise creating
+ * derivative works of the Spine Runtimes is permitted under the terms and
+ * conditions of Section 2 of the Spine Editor License Agreement:
+ * http://esotericsoftware.com/spine-editor-license
+ *
+ * Otherwise, it is permitted to integrate the Spine Runtimes into software
+ * or otherwise create derivative works of the Spine Runtimes (collectively,
+ * "Products"), provided that each user of the Products must obtain their own
+ * Spine Editor license and redistribution of the Products in any form must
+ * include this license and copyright notice.
+ *
+ * THE SPINE RUNTIMES ARE PROVIDED BY ESOTERIC SOFTWARE LLC "AS IS" AND ANY
+ * EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED
+ * WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE
+ * DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL ESOTERIC SOFTWARE LLC BE LIABLE FOR ANY
+ * DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES
+ * (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES,
+ * BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, OR LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS) HOWEVER CAUSED AND
+ * ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
+ * (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF
+ * THE SPINE RUNTIMES, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+ *****************************************************************************/
+
+#ifndef SPINE_VERTEXEFFECT_H_
+#define SPINE_VERTEXEFFECT_H_
+
+#define SPINE_MAJOR_VERSION 4
+#define SPINE_MINOR_VERSION 1
+#define SPINE_VERSION_STRING "4.1"
+
+#endif
diff --git a/spine-cpp/spine-cpp/src/spine/SkeletonBinary.cpp b/spine-cpp/spine-cpp/src/spine/SkeletonBinary.cpp
index 378e6f32c..0148015b7 100644
--- a/spine-cpp/spine-cpp/src/spine/SkeletonBinary.cpp
+++ b/spine-cpp/spine-cpp/src/spine/SkeletonBinary.cpp
@@ -72,7 +72,8 @@
 #include <spine/TransformConstraintData.h>
 #include <spine/TransformConstraintTimeline.h>
 #include <spine/TranslateTimeline.h>
-#include "spine/SequenceTimeline.h"
+#include <spine/SequenceTimeline.h>
+#include <spine/Version.h>
 
 using namespace spine;
 
@@ -121,6 +122,13 @@ SkeletonData *SkeletonBinary::readSkeletonData(const unsigned char *binary, cons
 	char *skeletonDataVersion = readString(input);
 	skeletonData->_version.own(skeletonDataVersion);
 
+	if (!skeletonData->_version.startsWith(SPINE_VERSION_STRING)) {
+		char errorMsg[255];
+		sprintf(errorMsg, "Skeleton version %s does not match runtime version %s", skeletonData->_version.buffer(), SPINE_VERSION_STRING);
+		setError(errorMsg, "");
+		return NULL;
+	}
+
 	skeletonData->_x = readFloat(input);
 	skeletonData->_y = readFloat(input);
 	skeletonData->_width = readFloat(input);
diff --git a/spine-cpp/spine-cpp/src/spine/SkeletonJson.cpp b/spine-cpp/spine-cpp/src/spine/SkeletonJson.cpp
index 135b0d51f..d540b769a 100644
--- a/spine-cpp/spine-cpp/src/spine/SkeletonJson.cpp
+++ b/spine-cpp/spine-cpp/src/spine/SkeletonJson.cpp
@@ -72,7 +72,8 @@
 #include <spine/TransformConstraintTimeline.h>
 #include <spine/TranslateTimeline.h>
 #include <spine/Vertices.h>
-#include "spine/SequenceTimeline.h"
+#include <spine/SequenceTimeline.h>
+#include <spine/Version.h>
 
 using namespace spine;
 
@@ -153,6 +154,12 @@ SkeletonData *SkeletonJson::readSkeletonData(const char *json) {
 	if (skeleton) {
 		skeletonData->_hash = Json::getString(skeleton, "hash", 0);
 		skeletonData->_version = Json::getString(skeleton, "spine", 0);
+		if (!skeletonData->_version.startsWith(SPINE_VERSION_STRING)) {
+			char errorMsg[255];
+			sprintf(errorMsg, "Skeleton version %s does not match runtime version %s", skeletonData->_version.buffer(), SPINE_VERSION_STRING);
+			setError(NULL, errorMsg, "");
+			return NULL;
+		}
 		skeletonData->_x = Json::getFloat(skeleton, "x", 0);
 		skeletonData->_y = Json::getFloat(skeleton, "y", 0);
 		skeletonData->_width = Json::getFloat(skeleton, "width", 0);