diff --git a/docs/content/reference/pgo_version.md b/docs/content/reference/pgo_version.md
index 6478aae..14efb0d 100644
--- a/docs/content/reference/pgo_version.md
+++ b/docs/content/reference/pgo_version.md
@@ -38,7 +38,8 @@ Operator Version: v5.5.0
 ### Options
 
 ```
-  -h, --help   help for version
+      --client   If true, shows client version only (no server required).
+  -h, --help     help for version
 ```
 
 ### Options inherited from parent commands
diff --git a/internal/cmd/version.go b/internal/cmd/version.go
index 8d9b0b4..89ebcba 100644
--- a/internal/cmd/version.go
+++ b/internal/cmd/version.go
@@ -47,6 +47,9 @@ func newVersionCommand(config *internal.Config) *cobra.Command {
 	// No arguments for 'version'
 	cmd.Args = cobra.NoArgs
 
+	var clientOnly bool
+	cmd.Flags().BoolVar(&clientOnly, "client", false, "If true, shows client version only (no server required).")
+
 	cmd.Example = internal.FormatExample(fmt.Sprintf(`# Request the version of the client and the operator
 pgo version
 
@@ -57,6 +60,9 @@ Operator Version: v5.5.0`, clientVersion))
 	cmd.RunE = func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 
 		cmd.Printf("Client Version: %s\n", clientVersion)
+		if clientOnly {
+			return nil
+		}
 
 		ctx := context.Background()
 		restConfig, err := config.ToRESTConfig()
diff --git a/testing/kuttl/e2e/version/01--check-client-version.yaml b/testing/kuttl/e2e/version/01--check-client-version.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2142839
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testing/kuttl/e2e/version/01--check-client-version.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+apiVersion: kuttl.dev/v1beta1
+kind: TestStep
+commands:
+- script: |
+    VERSION_OUTPUT=$(kubectl pgo version --client)
+    CLI_VERSION=$(kubectl pgo version --client | awk '{print $3}')
+
+    # the CLI version isn't empty and the CLI version output follows the expected format
+    if [ -z "$CLI_VERSION" ]; then
+      echo "Client version output is empty."
+      exit 1
+    fi
+
+    case "${VERSION_OUTPUT}" in
+    *"Client Version: "*)
+        ;;
+    *)
+        echo "Version output is: "
+        echo "$VERSION_OUTPUT"
+        exit 1
+        ;;
+    esac