diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index 7d942c300..9d7c61a9d 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -2,8 +2,12 @@ This document attempts to list user-visible changes and any major internal
 rearrangements of Notcurses.
 
 * 2.0.8 (not yet released)
-  * The MAJOR, MINOR, and PATH versions are now available as preprocessor
-    numeric defines, fit for comparisons at the cpp level.
+  * The major, minor, and patch versions are now available as preprocessor
+    numeric defines, fit for comparisons at the cpp level. The
+    `NOTCURSES_VERSION_COMPARABLE` macro has been added, to form a comparable
+    version ID from a provided major, minor, and patch level. The
+    `NOTCURSES_VERNUM_ORDERED` macro has been added, defined as a comparable
+    version ID for the current version of Notcurses.
   * Add new function `ncplane_reparent_family()`, which reparents a plane and
     its bindtree (all planes bound to the plane, recursively).
     `ncplane_reparent()` now reparents only the specified plane; any planes
@@ -34,9 +38,6 @@ rearrangements of Notcurses.
     annoying for callers to deal with otherwise. Sorry for the inconvenience.
   * Added `ncplane_set_resizecb()` and `ncplane_resizecb()`.
 
-* 2.0.4 (2020-11-10)
-  * Fixed unit tests for non UTF-8 case, brown bagger, alas.
-
 * 2.0.3 (2020-11-09)
   * Add `NCBLIT_3x2` aka the SEXBLITTER, making use of Unicode 13's sextant
     glyphs. `notcurses_lex_blitter()` now recognizes `sexblitter`.
diff --git a/tools/version.h.in b/tools/version.h.in
index 6aeb9f46c..0c28019a0 100644
--- a/tools/version.h.in
+++ b/tools/version.h.in
@@ -7,10 +7,11 @@
 #define NOTCURSES_VERNUM_PATCH @notcurses_VERSION_PATCH@
 #define NOTCURSES_VERNUM_TWEAK @notcurses_VERSION_TWEAK@
 
-#define NOTCURSES_VERNUM_ORDERED \
- ((NOTCURSES_VERNUM_MAJOR << 16u) + \
-  (NOTCURSES_VERNUM_MINOR << 8u) + \
-  (NOTCURSES_VERNUM_PATCH))
+#define NOTCURSES_VERSION_COMPARABLE(major, minor, patch) \
+  (((major) << 16u) + ((minor) << 8u) + (patch))
+
+#define NOTCURSES_VERNUM_ORDERED NOTCURSES_VERSION_COMPARABLE( \
+  NOTCURSES_VERNUM_MAJOR, NOTCURSES_VERNUM_MINOR, NOTCURSES_VERNUM_PATCH)
 
 #define NOTCURSES_VERSION_MAJOR "@notcurses_VERSION_MAJOR@"
 #define NOTCURSES_VERSION_MINOR "@notcurses_VERSION_MINOR@"