diff --git a/src/gochan.go b/src/gochan.go
index 10c1e60b..56860b28 100755
--- a/src/gochan.go
+++ b/src/gochan.go
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ func main() {
 	connectToSQLServer()
 	parseCommandLine()
 
-	printf(0, "Starting gochan v%s.%s, using verbosity level %d\n", config.Version, buildtimeString, config.Verbosity)
+	printf(0, "Starting gochan v%s.%s, using verbosity level %d\n", config.Version.String(), buildtimeString, config.Verbosity)
 	println(0, "Loading and parsing templates...")
 	if err := initTemplates(); err != nil {
 		handleError(0, customError(err))
diff --git a/src/template.go b/src/template.go
index 1153d49b..e470297b 100755
--- a/src/template.go
+++ b/src/template.go
@@ -127,8 +127,10 @@ var funcMap = template.FuncMap{
 		return getThumbnailPath("catalog", img)
 	},
 	"getThreadID": func(post_i interface{}) (thread int) {
-		post := post_i.(PostTable)
-		if post.ParentID == 0 {
+		post, ok := post_i.(PostTable)
+		if !ok {
+			thread = 0
+		} else if post.ParentID == 0 {
 			thread = post.ID
 		} else {
 			thread = post.ParentID
@@ -235,6 +237,11 @@ var funcMap = template.FuncMap{
 	"isStyleDefault": func(style string) bool {
 		return style == config.DefaultStyle
 	},
+
+	// Version functions
+	"formatVersion": func(v GochanVersion) string {
+		return v.String()
+	},
 }
 
 var (
diff --git a/src/types.go b/src/types.go
index 62766d20..6d78a191 100644
--- a/src/types.go
+++ b/src/types.go
@@ -423,11 +423,11 @@ type GochanConfig struct {
 	// Verbosity = 0 for no debugging info. Critical errors and general output only
 	// Verbosity = 1 for non-critical warnings and important info
 	// Verbosity = 2 for all debugging/benchmarks/warnings
-	Verbosity     int    `description:"The level of verbosity to use in error/warning messages. 0 = critical errors/startup messages, 1 = warnings, 2 = benchmarks/notices." default:"0"`
-	EnableAppeals bool   `description:"If checked, allow banned users to appeal their bans.<br />This will likely be removed (permanently allowing appeals) or made board-specific in the future." default:"checked"`
-	MaxLogDays    int    `description:"The maximum number of days to keep messages in the moderation/staff log file."`
-	RandomSeed    string `critical:"true"`
-	Version       string `critical:"true"`
+	Verbosity     int           `description:"The level of verbosity to use in error/warning messages. 0 = critical errors/startup messages, 1 = warnings, 2 = benchmarks/notices." default:"0"`
+	EnableAppeals bool          `description:"If checked, allow banned users to appeal their bans.<br />This will likely be removed (permanently allowing appeals) or made board-specific in the future." default:"checked"`
+	MaxLogDays    int           `description:"The maximum number of days to keep messages in the moderation/staff log file."`
+	RandomSeed    string        `critical:"true"`
+	Version       GochanVersion `critical:"true"`
 }
 
 func initConfig() {
@@ -675,5 +675,5 @@ func initConfig() {
 	bbcompiler.SetTag("quote", nil)
 	bbcompiler.SetTag("size", nil)
 
-	config.Version = version
+	config.Version = ParseVersion(version)
 }
diff --git a/src/version.go b/src/version.go
index d8ac1802..f9ab4cc3 100644
--- a/src/version.go
+++ b/src/version.go
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+// used for version parsing, printing, and comparison
+
 package main
 
 import (
@@ -5,19 +7,38 @@ import (
 )
 
 type GochanVersion struct {
-	Major    uint
-	Minor    uint
-	Revision uint
+	Major    int
+	Minor    int
+	Revision int
 	Extra    string
 }
 
 func ParseVersion(vStr string) GochanVersion {
 	var v GochanVersion
 	fmt.Sscanf(vStr, "%d.%d.%d-%s", &v.Major, &v.Minor, &v.Revision, &v.Extra)
+	v.Normalize()
 	return v
 }
 
+func (v *GochanVersion) Normalize() bool {
+	valid := true
+	if v.Major < 0 {
+		v.Major = 0
+		valid = false
+	}
+	if v.Minor < 0 {
+		v.Minor = 0
+		valid = false
+	}
+	if v.Revision < 0 {
+		v.Revision = 0
+	}
+	return valid
+}
+
 func (v *GochanVersion) Compare(v2 GochanVersion) int {
+	v.Normalize()
+	v2.Normalize()
 	if v.Major > v2.Major {
 		return 1
 	}
@@ -39,11 +60,15 @@ func (v *GochanVersion) Compare(v2 GochanVersion) int {
 	return 0
 }
 
-func (v *GochanVersion) CompareString(v2 string) int {
-	return v.Compare(ParseVersion(v2))
+func (v *GochanVersion) CompareString(v2str string) int {
+	v.Normalize()
+	v2 := ParseVersion(v2str)
+	v2.Normalize()
+	return v.Compare(v2)
 }
 
 func (v *GochanVersion) String() string {
+	v.Normalize()
 	str := fmt.Sprintf("%d.%d", v.Major, v.Minor)
 	if v.Revision > 0 {
 		str += fmt.Sprintf(".%d", v.Revision)
diff --git a/templates/global_footer.html b/templates/global_footer.html
index ecaa315c..b30d4b98 100644
--- a/templates/global_footer.html
+++ b/templates/global_footer.html
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 <div id="footer">
 		<a href="{{$.config.SiteWebfolder}}">Home</a> | <a href="{{$.config.SiteWebfolder}}#boards">Boards</a> | <a href="{{$.config.SiteWebfolder}}#rules">Rules</a> | <a href="{{$.config.SiteWebfolder}}#faq">FAQ</a><br />
-		Powered by <a href="http://github.com/eggbertx/gochan/">Gochan {{.config.Version}}</a><br />
+		Powered by <a href="http://github.com/eggbertx/gochan/">Gochan {{formatVersion .config.Version}}</a><br />
 	</div>
 </body>
 </html>