diff --git a/Modules/about-distro/example/kcm-about-distrorc.ex b/Modules/about-distro/example/kcm-about-distrorc.ex
--- a/Modules/about-distro/example/kcm-about-distrorc.ex
+++ b/Modules/about-distro/example/kcm-about-distrorc.ex
@@ -3,3 +3,4 @@
 Website=http://www.kubuntu.org
 Version=1.2.3
 Variant=Unstable Branches
+UseOSReleaseVersion=true # controls if os-release's VERSION is used (default=false = use VERSION_ID)
diff --git a/Modules/about-distro/src/Module.cpp b/Modules/about-distro/src/Module.cpp
--- a/Modules/about-distro/src/Module.cpp
+++ b/Modules/about-distro/src/Module.cpp
@@ -161,7 +161,10 @@
     // For example OS Ubuntu may be rebranded as Kubuntu. Also Kubuntu Active
     // as a product brand is different from Kubuntu.
     const QString distroName = cg.readEntry("Name", os.name);
-    const QString versionId = cg.readEntry("Version", os.versionId);
+    const QString osrVersion = cg.readEntry("UseOSReleaseVersion", false)
+            ? os.version
+            : os.versionId;
+    const QString versionId = cg.readEntry("Version", osrVersion);
     const QString distroNameVersion = QStringLiteral("%1 %2").arg(distroName, versionId);
     ui->nameVersionLabel->setText(distroNameVersion);