diff --git a/forge-cli/cmd/root.go b/forge-cli/cmd/root.go
index 6609e09..568082f 100644
--- a/forge-cli/cmd/root.go
+++ b/forge-cli/cmd/root.go
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ var (
 	themeOverride string
 
 	appVersion = "dev"
+	appCommit  = "none"
 )
 
 var rootCmd = &cobra.Command{
@@ -52,6 +53,7 @@ func init() {
 // SetVersionInfo sets the version and commit for display.
 func SetVersionInfo(version, commit string) {
 	appVersion = version
+	appCommit = commit
 	rootCmd.Version = version
 	rootCmd.SetVersionTemplate(fmt.Sprintf("forge %s (commit: %s)\n", version, commit))
 }
diff --git a/forge-cli/cmd/run.go b/forge-cli/cmd/run.go
index b04bb2d..a06130a 100644
--- a/forge-cli/cmd/run.go
+++ b/forge-cli/cmd/run.go
@@ -231,6 +231,7 @@ func runRun(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 		RateLimitOverride:   rateLimitOverride,
 		TracingFlags:        tracingFlags,
 		RuntimeVersion:      appVersion,
+		RuntimeCommit:       appCommit,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("creating runner: %w", err)
diff --git a/forge-cli/runtime/banner_version_test.go b/forge-cli/runtime/banner_version_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..423e943
--- /dev/null
+++ b/forge-cli/runtime/banner_version_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+package runtime
+
+import "testing"
+
+// forgeVersionString is what the startup banner shows on the "Forge:" line —
+// the forge binary/runtime version, distinct from the agent's forge.yaml
+// version. It must degrade cleanly for dev builds (#335).
+func TestForgeVersionString(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name    string
+		version string
+		commit  string
+		want    string
+	}{
+		{"release with commit", "v0.17.0", "51df9a4", "v0.17.0 (commit: 51df9a4)"},
+		{"release, no commit baked", "v0.17.0", "none", "v0.17.0"},
+		{"release, empty commit", "v0.17.0", "", "v0.17.0"},
+		{"dev build (defaults)", "dev", "none", "dev"},
+		{"empty version defaults to dev", "", "none", "dev"},
+		{"empty version, real commit", "", "abc1234", "dev (commit: abc1234)"},
+	}
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			r := &Runner{cfg: RunnerConfig{RuntimeVersion: tc.version, RuntimeCommit: tc.commit}}
+			if got := r.forgeVersionString(); got != tc.want {
+				t.Errorf("forgeVersionString(%q, %q) = %q, want %q", tc.version, tc.commit, got, tc.want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
diff --git a/forge-cli/runtime/runner.go b/forge-cli/runtime/runner.go
index 41fc6b9..49f502b 100644
--- a/forge-cli/runtime/runner.go
+++ b/forge-cli/runtime/runner.go
@@ -106,6 +106,12 @@ type RunnerConfig struct {
 	// the `forge.runtime.version` OTel resource attribute so backends
 	// can compare agent runs across Forge upgrade waves. Empty = "dev".
 	RuntimeVersion string
+
+	// RuntimeCommit is the Forge cli's own build commit (short SHA),
+	// injected via `-X main.commit`. Shown on the startup banner next to
+	// RuntimeVersion so a running agent's exact binary is identifiable.
+	// "none"/"" = unset (a dev build) → the banner shows just the version.
+	RuntimeCommit string
 }
 
 // ScheduleNotifier is called after a scheduled task completes to deliver the
@@ -2848,6 +2854,19 @@ func (r *Runner) createProviderClient(provider string, cfg llm.ClientConfig) (ll
 	return providers.NewClient(provider, cfg)
 }
 
+// forgeVersionString formats the Forge binary/runtime version for the banner:
+// "v0.17.0 (commit: 51df9a4)" when a real commit is baked in, else just the
+// version. An empty version reads "dev"; the "none" sentinel (no -X commit)
+// suppresses the commit suffix. This is the FORGE binary version, distinct
+// from the agent's own forge.yaml version shown on the "Agent:" line.
+func (r *Runner) forgeVersionString() string {
+	v := defaultStr(r.cfg.RuntimeVersion, "dev")
+	if c := r.cfg.RuntimeCommit; c != "" && c != "none" {
+		return fmt.Sprintf("%s (commit: %s)", v, c)
+	}
+	return v
+}
+
 func (r *Runner) printBanner(proxyURL string) {
 	title := "Forge Dev Server"
 	if r.cfg.Host != "" {
@@ -2859,6 +2878,7 @@ func (r *Runner) printBanner(proxyURL string) {
 	fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "  %s\n", title)
 	fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "  ────────────────────────────────────────\n")
 	fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "  Agent:      %s (v%s)\n", r.cfg.Config.AgentID, r.cfg.Config.Version)
+	fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "  Forge:      %s\n", r.forgeVersionString())
 	fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "  Framework:  %s\n", r.cfg.Config.Framework)
 	fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "  Listen:     %s:%d\n", host, r.cfg.Port)
 	if r.cfg.MockTools {