diff --git a/lib/svgo/coa.js b/lib/svgo/coa.js
index d706ad6a5..026e7fa73 100644
--- a/lib/svgo/coa.js
+++ b/lib/svgo/coa.js
@@ -28,7 +28,10 @@ module.exports = require('coa').Cmd()
         .only()
         .flag()
         .act(function() {
-            return PKG.version;
+            // output the version to stdout instead of stderr if returned
+            process.stdout.write(PKG.version + '\n');
+            // coa will run `.toString` on the returned value and send it to stderr
+            return '';
         })
         .end()
     .opt()