diff --git a/aeron-driver/src/main/c/aeron_driver.c b/aeron-driver/src/main/c/aeron_driver.c
index ba0f8d4148..abb9848fb4 100644
--- a/aeron-driver/src/main/c/aeron_driver.c
+++ b/aeron-driver/src/main/c/aeron_driver.c
@@ -84,6 +84,26 @@ int aeron_version_patch()
     return aeron_patch_version;
 }
 
+int32_t aeron_semantic_version_compose(uint8_t major, uint8_t minor, uint8_t patch)
+{
+    return (major << 16) | (minor << 8) | patch;
+}
+
+uint8_t aeron_semantic_version_major(int32_t version)
+{
+    return (uint8_t)((version >> 16) & 0xFF);
+}
+
+uint8_t aeron_semantic_version_minor(int32_t version)
+{
+    return (uint8_t)((version >> 8) & 0xFF);
+}
+
+uint8_t aeron_semantic_version_patch(int32_t version)
+{
+    return (uint8_t)(version & 0xFF);
+}
+
 void aeron_log_func_stderr(const char *str)
 {
     fprintf(stderr, "%s\n", str);
@@ -203,7 +223,7 @@ int aeron_report_existing_errors(aeron_mapped_file_t *cnc_map, const char *aeron
 
     aeron_cnc_metadata_t *metadata = (aeron_cnc_metadata_t *)cnc_map->addr;
 
-    if (AERON_CNC_VERSION == metadata->cnc_version &&
+    if (aeron_semantic_version_major(AERON_CNC_VERSION) == aeron_semantic_version_major(metadata->cnc_version) &&
         aeron_error_log_exists(aeron_cnc_error_log_buffer(cnc_map->addr), (size_t)metadata->error_log_buffer_length))
     {
         char datestamp[AERON_MAX_PATH];
@@ -1019,5 +1039,14 @@ int aeron_driver_close(aeron_driver_t *driver)
     }
 
     aeron_free(driver);
+
     return 0;
 }
+
+extern int32_t aeron_semantic_version_compose(uint8_t major, uint8_t minor, uint8_t patch);
+
+extern uint8_t aeron_semantic_version_major(int32_t version);
+
+extern uint8_t aeron_semantic_version_minor(int32_t version);
+
+extern uint8_t aeron_semantic_version_patch(int32_t version);
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/aeron-driver/src/main/c/aeron_driver.h b/aeron-driver/src/main/c/aeron_driver.h
index 324c61e796..6b61d6b6a9 100644
--- a/aeron-driver/src/main/c/aeron_driver.h
+++ b/aeron-driver/src/main/c/aeron_driver.h
@@ -43,4 +43,14 @@ aeron_driver_t;
 bool aeron_is_driver_active_with_cnc(
     aeron_mapped_file_t *cnc_map, int64_t timeout_ms, int64_t now_ms, aeron_log_func_t log_func);
 
+int32_t aeron_semantic_version_compose(uint8_t major, uint8_t minor, uint8_t patch);
+
+uint8_t aeron_semantic_version_major(int32_t version);
+
+uint8_t aeron_semantic_version_minor(int32_t version);
+
+uint8_t aeron_semantic_version_patch(int32_t version);
+
+#define AERON_CNC_VERSION (aeron_semantic_version_compose(0, 0, 15))
+
 #endif //AERON_DRIVER_H
diff --git a/aeron-driver/src/main/c/aeron_driver_context.c b/aeron-driver/src/main/c/aeron_driver_context.c
index 9637ef4c71..8763910be1 100644
--- a/aeron-driver/src/main/c/aeron_driver_context.c
+++ b/aeron-driver/src/main/c/aeron_driver_context.c
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@
 #include "protocol/aeron_udp_protocol.h"
 #include "util/aeron_parse_util.h"
 #include "util/aeron_fileutil.h"
+#include "aeron_driver.h"
 #include "aeron_driver_context.h"
 #include "aeron_alloc.h"
 #include "concurrent/aeron_mpsc_rb.h"
@@ -903,12 +904,18 @@ bool aeron_is_driver_active_with_cnc(
         aeron_micro_sleep(1000);
     }
 
-    if (AERON_CNC_VERSION != cnc_version)
+    if (aeron_semantic_version_major(AERON_CNC_VERSION) != aeron_semantic_version_major(cnc_version))
     {
         snprintf(
             buffer, sizeof(buffer) - 1,
-            "ERROR: aeron cnc version does not match: file version=%d software version=%d",
-            cnc_version, AERON_CNC_VERSION);
+            "ERROR: aeron cnc version not compatible: app version=%d.%d.%d file=%d.%d.%d",
+            (int)aeron_semantic_version_major(AERON_CNC_VERSION),
+            (int)aeron_semantic_version_minor(AERON_CNC_VERSION),
+            (int)aeron_semantic_version_patch(AERON_CNC_VERSION),
+            (int)aeron_semantic_version_major(cnc_version),
+            (int)aeron_semantic_version_minor(cnc_version),
+            (int)aeron_semantic_version_patch(cnc_version));
+
         log_func(buffer);
     }
     else
@@ -923,8 +930,8 @@ bool aeron_is_driver_active_with_cnc(
         }
         else
         {
-            int64_t timestamp = aeron_mpsc_rb_consumer_heartbeat_time_value(&rb);
-            int64_t diff = now_ms - timestamp;
+            int64_t timestamp_ms = aeron_mpsc_rb_consumer_heartbeat_time_value(&rb);
+            int64_t diff = now_ms - timestamp_ms;
 
             snprintf(buffer, sizeof(buffer) - 1, "INFO: Aeron driver heartbeat is %" PRId64 " ms old", diff);
             log_func(buffer);
diff --git a/aeron-driver/src/main/c/aeron_driver_context.h b/aeron-driver/src/main/c/aeron_driver_context.h
index 54b3f049a3..2eb89407ab 100644
--- a/aeron-driver/src/main/c/aeron_driver_context.h
+++ b/aeron-driver/src/main/c/aeron_driver_context.h
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@
 
 #define AERON_CNC_FILE "cnc.dat"
 #define AERON_LOSS_REPORT_FILE "loss-report.dat"
-#define AERON_CNC_VERSION (15)
 
 #pragma pack(push)
 #pragma pack(4)