diff --git a/tools/run_tests/sanity/check_version.py b/tools/run_tests/sanity/check_version.py
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..41dd5efe3887fde41b69aa70e2add1d876ec4161
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/run_tests/sanity/check_version.py
@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+
+# Copyright 2016, Google Inc.
+# All rights reserved.
+#
+# Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+# modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are
+# met:
+#
+#     * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+# notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+#     * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above
+# copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer
+# in the documentation and/or other materials provided with the
+# distribution.
+#     * Neither the name of Google Inc. nor the names of its
+# contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from
+# this software without specific prior written permission.
+#
+# THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
+# "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+# LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR
+# A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT
+# OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
+# SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+# LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
+# DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY
+# THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
+# (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
+# OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+
+import sys
+import yaml
+import os
+import re
+import subprocess
+
+errors = 0
+
+os.chdir(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(sys.argv[0]), '../../..'))
+
+# hack import paths to pick up extra code
+sys.path.insert(0, os.path.abspath('tools/buildgen/plugins'))
+from expand_version import Version
+
+try:
+  branch_name = subprocess.check_output(
+    'git rev-parse --abbrev-ref HEAD',
+    shell=True)
+except:
+  print 'WARNING: not a git repository'
+  branch_name = None
+
+if branch_name is not None:
+  m = re.match(r'^release-([0-9]+)_([0-9]+)$', branch_name)
+  if m:
+    print 'RELEASE branch'
+    # version number should align with the branched version
+    check_version = lambda version: (
+      version.major == int(m.group(1)) and
+      version.minor == int(m.group(2)))
+    warning = 'Version key "%%s" value "%%s" should have a major version %s and minor version %s' % (m.group(1), m.group(2))
+  elif re.match(r'^debian/.*$', branch_name):
+    # no additional version checks for debian branches
+    check_version = lambda version: True
+  else:
+    # all other branches should have a -dev tag
+    check_version = lambda version: version.tag == 'dev'
+    warning = 'Version key "%s" value "%s" should have a -dev tag'
+else:
+  check_version = lambda version: True
+
+with open('build.yaml', 'r') as f:
+  build_yaml = yaml.load(f.read())
+
+settings = build_yaml['settings']
+
+top_version = Version(settings['version'])
+if not check_version(top_version):
+  errors += 1
+  print warning % ('version', top_version)
+
+for tag, value in settings.iteritems():
+  if re.match(r'^[a-z]+_version$', tag):
+    value = Version(value)
+    if value.major != top_version.major:
+      errors += 1
+      print 'major version mismatch on %s: %d vs %d' % (tag, value.major, top_version.major)
+    if value.minor != top_version.minor:
+      errors += 1
+      print 'minor version mismatch on %s: %d vs %d' % (tag, value.minor, top_version.minor)
+    if not check_version(value):
+      errors += 1
+      print warning % (tag, value)
+
+sys.exit(errors)
+
diff --git a/tools/run_tests/sanity/sanity_tests.yaml b/tools/run_tests/sanity/sanity_tests.yaml
index 1fc0525e0297cc011ad7a3e8d64da28a17caff8d..cffc180fb07d90a3dc481ff9dc30d569b874518b 100644
--- a/tools/run_tests/sanity/sanity_tests.yaml
+++ b/tools/run_tests/sanity/sanity_tests.yaml
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 # a set of tests that are run in parallel for sanity tests
+- script: tools/run_tests/sanity/check_cache_mk.sh
 - script: tools/run_tests/sanity/check_sources_and_headers.py
 - script: tools/run_tests/sanity/check_submodules.sh
-- script: tools/run_tests/sanity/check_cache_mk.sh
+- script: tools/run_tests/sanity/check_version.py
 - script: tools/buildgen/generate_projects.sh -j 3
   cpu_cost: 3
 - script: tools/distrib/check_copyright.py