diff --git a/src/util/ffw.c b/src/util/ffw.c
index 6bf2982..7106235 100644
--- a/src/util/ffw.c
+++ b/src/util/ffw.c
@@ -401,9 +401,7 @@ void ffw_auto_hint(void)
     FVAutoInstr(cur_fv);
 }
 
-char* ffw_get_version(void)
+long ffw_get_version(void)
 {
-    char* str = (char*)malloc(sizeof(char) * 20);
-    printf("%d", library_version_configuration.library_source_versiondate);
-    return str;
+    return library_version_configuration.library_source_versiondate;
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/util/ffw.h b/src/util/ffw.h
index ae2758b..bfcdacd 100644
--- a/src/util/ffw.h
+++ b/src/util/ffw.h
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ extern "C" {
 // global
 void ffw_init(int debug);
 void ffw_finalize(void);
-char* ffw_get_version(void);
+long ffw_get_version(void);
 
 ////////////////////////
 // load & save