diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4ef08cf..20fd03e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -135,14 +135,7 @@ async def run():
         await server.run(
             read_stream,
             write_stream,
-            InitializationOptions(
-                server_name="example",
-                server_version="0.1.0",
-                capabilities=server.get_capabilities(
-                    notification_options=NotificationOptions(),
-                    experimental_capabilities={},
-                )
-            )
+            server.create_initialization_options("0.1.0")
         )
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
diff --git a/src/mcp/server/__init__.py b/src/mcp/server/__init__.py
index a0dd033..212f011 100644
--- a/src/mcp/server/__init__.py
+++ b/src/mcp/server/__init__.py
@@ -114,6 +114,7 @@ class Server:
 
     def create_initialization_options(
         self,
+        version: str | None = None,
         notification_options: NotificationOptions | None = None,
         experimental_capabilities: dict[str, dict[str, Any]] | None = None,
     ) -> InitializationOptions:
@@ -133,7 +134,7 @@ class Server:
 
         return InitializationOptions(
             server_name=self.name,
-            server_version=pkg_version("mcp"),
+            server_version=version if version else pkg_version("mcp"),
             capabilities=self.get_capabilities(
                 notification_options or NotificationOptions(),
                 experimental_capabilities or {},
diff --git a/src/mcp/server/sse.py b/src/mcp/server/sse.py
index 3062b32..765c0eb 100644
--- a/src/mcp/server/sse.py
+++ b/src/mcp/server/sse.py
@@ -19,8 +19,9 @@ Example usage:
         async with sse.connect_sse(
             request.scope, request.receive, request._send
         ) as streams:
+            # Pass user visible version string, egs. 0.1.0
             await app.run(
-                streams[0], streams[1], app.create_initialization_options()
+                streams[0], streams[1], app.create_initialization_options("0.1.0")
             )
 
     async def handle_messages(request):