diff --git a/Manual_tests.md b/Manual_tests.md
index d7be344..8957542 100644
--- a/Manual_tests.md
+++ b/Manual_tests.md
@@ -12,7 +12,8 @@ Initializing settings:
   - run with a filename on commandline, scroll around, quit; restart with new filename; window opens new filename with cursor up top
   - run editor, scroll around, move cursor to end of some line, quit; restart with new filename; window opens in same position+dimensions
 
-  - run with an unsupported version. Error message pops up and waits for a key. The app attempts to continue, and doesn't receive the key.
+  - run with an untested version. Error message pops up and waits for a key. The app attempts to continue, and doesn't receive the key.
+  - run with a LÖVE v12 release candidate. No errors; it is a supported version. All tests pass.
 
 Code loading:
 * run love with directory; text editor runs
diff --git a/app.lua b/app.lua
index 6f8892e..3c711ed 100644
--- a/app.lua
+++ b/app.lua
@@ -7,16 +7,21 @@
 --     and a source editor, while giving each the illusion of complete
 --     control.
 function love.run()
+  Version, Major_version = App.love_version()
   App.snapshot_love()
   -- Tests always run at the start.
   Test_errors = {}
   App.run_tests()
   if #Test_errors > 0 then
-    error('There were test failures:\n\n'..table.concat(Test_errors))
+    local error_message = ''
+    if Warning_before_tests then
+      error_message = Warning_before_tests..'\n\n'
+    end
+    error_message = error_message .. ('There were %d test failures:\n%s'):format(#Test_errors, table.concat(Test_errors))
+    error(error_message)
   end
 
 --?   print('==')
-  App.version_check()
   App.disable_tests()
   App.initialize_globals()
   App.initialize(love.arg.parseGameArguments(arg), arg)
@@ -58,6 +63,12 @@ end
 
 App = {}
 
+function App.love_version()
+  local major_version, minor_version = love.getVersion()
+  local version = major_version..'.'..minor_version
+  return version, major_version
+end
+
 -- save/restore various framework globals we care about -- only on very first load
 function App.snapshot_love()
   if Love_snapshot then return end
diff --git a/main.lua b/main.lua
index dba2e58..c6b3fab 100644
--- a/main.lua
+++ b/main.lua
@@ -13,19 +13,11 @@ require 'main_tests'
 require 'edit'
 Editor_state = {}
 
-function App.version_check()
-  Mode = 'version_check'
-  Supported_versions = {'11.5', '11.4', '11.3', '11.2', '11.1', '11.0', '12.0'}  -- put the recommended version first
-  local minor_version
-  Major_version, minor_version = love.getVersion()
-  Version = Major_version..'.'..minor_version
-  if array.find(Supported_versions, Version) then
-    Mode = 'run'
-  end
-end
-
 -- called both in tests and real run
 function App.initialize_globals()
+  Supported_versions = {'11.5', '11.4', '12.0'}  -- put the recommended version first
+  check_love_version_for_tests()
+
   -- tests currently mostly clear their own state
 
   -- blinking cursor
@@ -37,6 +29,13 @@ function App.initialize_globals()
   Last_resize_time = 0
 end
 
+function check_love_version_for_tests()
+  if array.find(Supported_versions, Version) == nil then
+    -- warning to include in an error message if any tests failed
+    Warning_before_tests = ("This app hasn't been tested with LÖVE version %s."):format(Version)
+  end
+end
+
 -- called only for real run
 function App.initialize(arg)
   love.keyboard.setTextInput(true)  -- bring up keyboard on touch screen
@@ -77,6 +76,15 @@ function App.initialize(arg)
     jit.off()
     jit.flush()
   end
+
+  check_love_version()
+end
+
+function check_love_version()
+  if array.find(Supported_versions, Version) == nil then
+    Mode = 'version_check'
+    -- continue initializing everything; hopefully we won't have errors during initialization
+  end
 end
 
 function print_and_log(s)
@@ -173,7 +181,7 @@ function App.draw()
     love.graphics.setColor(1,1,0)
     love.graphics.rectangle('fill', 30,30, 400,400)
     love.graphics.setColor(0,0,0)
-    love.graphics.printf(("This app doesn't support version %s; please use version %s. Press any key to try it with this version anyway."):format(Version, Supported_versions[1]), 40,40, 400)
+    love.graphics.printf(("This app hasn't been tested with LÖVE version %s; please switch to version %s if you run into issues. Press any key to continue."):format(Version, Supported_versions[1]), 40,40, 400)
     return
   end
   edit.draw(Editor_state)
diff --git a/reference.md b/reference.md
index d0956ba..1f1f724 100644
--- a/reference.md
+++ b/reference.md
@@ -11,6 +11,9 @@ automatically called for you as appropriate.
   * `flags` -- some properties of the app window. See [`flags` in `love.graphics.getMode`](https://love2d.org/wiki/love.window.getMode)
     for details.
 
+* `Version` -- the running version of LÖVE as a string, e.g. '11.4'.
+* `Major_version` -- just the part before the period as an int, e.g. 11.
+
 ## Functions that get automatically called
 
 * `App.initialize_globals()` -- called before running each test and also