diff --git a/rsyslog.changes b/rsyslog.changes
index 507ca4b..57110a1 100644
--- a/rsyslog.changes
+++ b/rsyslog.changes
@@ -1,3 +1,11 @@
+-------------------------------------------------------------------
+Wed Sep  9 21:36:16 CEST 2009 - mt@suse.de
+
+- Added read-only RSYSLOGD_NATIVE_VERSION sysconfig/syslog variable,
+  that is set to the native mode version number for the -c parameter
+  while every installation and used in the /etc/init.d/syslog script,
+  except the user overrides this default in RSYSLOGD_COMPAT_VERSION.
+
 -------------------------------------------------------------------
 Wed Sep  2 20:15:28 CEST 2009 - mt@suse.de
 
diff --git a/rsyslog.spec b/rsyslog.spec
index 97e55e0..1a86b2d 100644
--- a/rsyslog.spec
+++ b/rsyslog.spec
@@ -255,7 +255,12 @@ install    -m0600 rsyslog.d.remote.conf.$$ \
                   %{buildroot}%{_sysconfdir}/rsyslog.d/remote.conf
 #
 install -d -m0755 %{buildroot}/var/adm/fillup-templates
-install    -m0600 %{_sourcedir}/rsyslog.sysconfig \
+# native version for the '-c <compat version>' parameter
+rsyslogd_version=%{version}
+rsyslogd_version=${rsyslogd_version//.*/}
+sed -e "s/@RSYSLOGD_VERSION@/${rsyslogd_version}/g" \
+	< %{_sourcedir}/rsyslog.sysconfig > rsyslog.sysconfig
+install    -m0600 rsyslog.sysconfig \
                   %{buildroot}/var/adm/fillup-templates/sysconfig.syslog-rsyslog
 #
 rm -f doc/Makefile*
@@ -282,6 +287,7 @@ fi
 #
 # add syslog variables provided by klogd if needed
 #
+%{remove_and_set -n syslog RSYSLOGD_NATIVE_VERSION}
 %{fillup_and_insserv -ny syslog syslog}
 %{fillup_and_insserv -nY syslog earlysyslog}
 #
diff --git a/rsyslog.sysconfig b/rsyslog.sysconfig
index 7ce229a..bec2e45 100644
--- a/rsyslog.sysconfig
+++ b/rsyslog.sysconfig
@@ -1,21 +1,36 @@
 
-## Type:           integer
+## Type:           list(@RSYSLOGD_VERSION@)
+## Default:        "@RSYSLOGD_VERSION@"
+## Config:         ""
+## ServiceRestart: syslog
+#
+# The native version compatibility level of the current rsyslogd.
+#
+# Note, that this variable is read-only -- please do not change it!
+# Instead, please adopt the RSYSLOGD_COMPAT_VERSION variable.
+#
+# This variable will be updated while every installation/upgrade of
+# the rsyslog daemon package.
+#
+RSYSLOGD_NATIVE_VERSION="@RSYSLOGD_VERSION@"
+
+## Type:           integer(0:@RSYSLOGD_VERSION@)
 ## Default:        ""
 ## Config:         ""
 ## ServiceRestart: syslog
 #
 # Version compatibility level to run rsyslogd with (-c parameter).
-# Default is to run in a distribution specific mode (that should be a
-# native mode of the installed version).
 # Set to the desired version number rsyslogd shall be compatible with.
 #
-# Note:
-# Changes to this variable may need adoption of the default config file
-# or break the /etc/init.d/syslog script.
+# Default is to run in native mode if the currently installed rsyslog
+# daemon version.
+#
+# Note: Changes to this variable may need adoption of the config file
+# or break features used in the /etc/init.d/syslog script by default.
 #
 RSYSLOGD_COMPAT_VERSION=""
 
-### Type:           string
+## Type:           string
 ## Default:        ""
 ## Config:         ""
 ## ServiceRestart: syslog