diff --git a/include/aboutmsg.h b/include/aboutmsg.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8b5acc2c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/aboutmsg.h
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+// Makefile appends preprocessor flags instead now
+#ifndef RADIANT_ABOUTMSG
+#error no RADIANT_ABOUTMSG defined
+#endif
diff --git a/include/version.h b/include/version.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..47134512
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/version.h
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+// Makefile appends preprocessor flags instead now
+#ifndef RADIANT_VERSION
+#error no RADIANT_VERSION defined
+#endif
+#ifndef RADIANT_MAJOR_VERSION
+#error no RADIANT_MAJOR_VERSION defined
+#endif
+#ifndef RADIANT_MINOR_VERSION
+#error no RADIANT_MINOR_VERSION defined
+#endif