diff --git a/paramiko/__init__.py b/paramiko/__init__.py
index 6a3e7a8..9e309cf 100644
--- a/paramiko/__init__.py
+++ b/paramiko/__init__.py
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ if sys.version_info < (2, 5):
 
 __author__ = "Jeff Forcier <jeff@bitprophet.org>"
 __version__ = "1.8.1"
+__version_info__ = tuple([ int(d) for d in __version__.split(".") ])
 __license__ = "GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL)"