diff --git a/salt/utils/parsers.py b/salt/utils/parsers.py
index 87fcac3aee21..446bdb3f981a 100644
--- a/salt/utils/parsers.py
+++ b/salt/utils/parsers.py
@@ -236,7 +236,9 @@ def _populate_option_list(self, option_list, add_help=True):
     def _add_version_option(self):
         optparse.OptionParser._add_version_option(self)
         self.add_option(
-            '--versions-report', action='store_true',
+            '--versions-report',
+            '-V',
+            action='store_true',
             help='Show program\'s dependencies version number and exit.'
         )