diff --git a/launcher-package/src/universal/bin/sbt.bat b/launcher-package/src/universal/bin/sbt.bat
index 4a03a92bb..3aedafe24 100755
--- a/launcher-package/src/universal/bin/sbt.bat
+++ b/launcher-package/src/universal/bin/sbt.bat
@@ -729,6 +729,21 @@ if !sbt_args_print_sbt_version! equ 1 (
   goto :eof
 )
 
+rem Handle --version here (after native client check is skipped) for sbt 2.x project dirs (#8717)
+:skip_native_for_version
+if "!sbt_args_print_version!" == "1" (
+  if "!is_this_dir_sbt!" == "1" (
+    if not "!build_props_sbt_version!" == "" (
+      echo sbt version in this project: !build_props_sbt_version!
+    )
+  )
+  echo sbt runner version: !init_sbt_version!
+  echo.
+  echo [info] sbt runner (sbt-the-batch-script) is a runner to run any declared version of sbt.
+  echo [info] Actual version of the sbt is declared using project\build.properties for each build.
+  goto :eof
+)
+
 if defined sbt_args_verbose (
   echo # Executing command line:
   echo "!_JAVACMD!"