diff --git a/kernel/ethosu_device.c b/kernel/ethosu_device.c
index 32d04ae..0df6c07 100644
--- a/kernel/ethosu_device.c
+++ b/kernel/ethosu_device.c
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 #include "ethosu_cancel_inference.h"
 #include "ethosu_network.h"
 #include "ethosu_network_info.h"
+#include "ethosu_version.h"
 #include "uapi/ethosu.h"
 
 #include <linux/dma-mapping.h>
@@ -145,26 +146,18 @@
 	case ETHOSU_CORE_MSG_VERSION_RSP:
 		if (length != sizeof(rpmsg->version_rsp)) {
 			dev_warn(dev,
-				 "Msg: Version response of incorrect size. size=%u, expected=%zu", length,
+				 "Msg: Protocol version response of incorrect size. size=%u, expected=%zu", length,
 				 sizeof(rpmsg->version_rsp));
 			ret = -EBADMSG;
 			break;
 		}
 
-		dev_info(dev, "Msg: Version response v%u.%u.%u",
-			 rpmsg->version_rsp.major, rpmsg->version_rsp.minor,
-			 rpmsg->version_rsp.patch);
+		dev_dbg(dev, "Msg: Protocol version response %u.%u.%u",
+			rpmsg->version_rsp.major, rpmsg->version_rsp.minor,
+			rpmsg->version_rsp.patch);
 
-		/* Check major and minor version match, else return error */
-		if (rpmsg->version_rsp.major != ETHOSU_CORE_MSG_VERSION_MAJOR ||
-		    rpmsg->version_rsp.minor != ETHOSU_CORE_MSG_VERSION_MINOR) {
-			dev_warn(dev, "Msg: Version mismatch detected! ");
-			dev_warn(dev, "Local version: v%u.%u.%u",
-				 ETHOSU_CORE_MSG_VERSION_MAJOR,
-				 ETHOSU_CORE_MSG_VERSION_MINOR,
-				 ETHOSU_CORE_MSG_VERSION_PATCH);
-		}
-
+		ethosu_version_rsp(&edev->mailbox, rpmsg->header.msg_id,
+				   &rpmsg->version_rsp);
 		break;
 	case ETHOSU_CORE_MSG_CAPABILITIES_RSP:
 		if (length != sizeof(rpmsg->cap_rsp)) {
@@ -457,7 +450,13 @@
 	if (ret)
 		goto free_rpmsg_ept;
 
-	ethosu_mailbox_ping(&edev->mailbox);
+	device_lock(dev);
+	ret = ethosu_version_check_request(dev, &edev->mailbox);
+	device_unlock(dev);
+	if (ret) {
+		dev_err(dev, "Protocol version check failed: %d", ret);
+		goto deinit_mailbox;
+	}
 
 	device_lock(dev);
 	ret = ethosu_capabilities_request(dev, &edev->mailbox,