diff --git a/lib/core/config.js b/lib/core/config.js
index 16bc8ce6..b27ce0bf 100644
--- a/lib/core/config.js
+++ b/lib/core/config.js
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ var File = require('./file.js');
 var Plugins = require('./plugins.js');
 var utils = require('../utils/utils.js');
 var Npm = require('../pipeline/npm.js');
+let currentWeb3Version = require('../../package.json').dependencies.web3.replace("^","");
 
 // TODO: add wrapper for fs so it can also work in the browser
 // can work with both read and save
@@ -250,7 +251,7 @@ Config.prototype.loadFiles = function(files) {
 
       if (self.blockchainConfig.enabled || self.communicationConfig.provider === 'whisper' || self.communicationConfig.available_providers.indexOf('whisper') >= 0) {
         let web3Version = self.contractsConfig.versions["web3.js"];
-        if (web3Version) {
+        if (web3Version && web3Version != currentWeb3Version) {
         //if (false) {
           //readFiles.push(new File({filename: 'web3-' + web3Version + '.js', type: 'custom', resolver: function(callback) {
           readFiles.push(new File({filename: 'web3.js', type: 'custom', resolver: function(callback) {
diff --git a/lib/dashboard/console.js b/lib/dashboard/console.js
index 8e5ba80c..f76a4d0a 100644
--- a/lib/dashboard/console.js
+++ b/lib/dashboard/console.js
@@ -5,15 +5,11 @@ class Console {
   constructor(options) {
     this.plugins = options.plugins;
     this.version = options.version;
+    this.contractsConfig = options.contractsConfig;
   }
 
   runCode(code) {
-    try {
-      RunCode.doEval(code); // jshint ignore:line
-    } catch(e) {
-      console.log(code);
-      console.debug(e);
-    }
+    RunCode.doEval(code); // jshint ignore:line
   }
 
   processEmbarkCmd (cmd) {
@@ -22,6 +18,7 @@ class Console {
         'Welcome to Embark ' + this.version,
         '',
         'possible commands are:',
+        'versions - display versions in use for libraries and tools like web3 and solc',
         // TODO: only if the blockchain is actually active!
         // will need to pass te current embark state here
         'web3 - instantiated web3.js object configured to the current environment',
@@ -30,6 +27,20 @@ class Console {
         'The web3 object and the interfaces for the deployed contracts and their methods are also available'
       ];
       return helpText.join('\n');
+    } else if (cmd === 'versions') {
+      //let currentSolcVersion = require('../../package.json').dependencies.solc;
+      let solcVersionInConfig = this.contractsConfig.versions.solc;
+
+      //let web3Version = require('../../package.json').dependencies["web3.js"].replace("^","");
+      let web3VersionInConfig = this.contractsConfig.versions["web3.js"];
+
+      let text = [
+        'versions in use:',
+        'solc: ' + solcVersionInConfig,
+        'web3.js: ' + web3VersionInConfig
+      ]
+
+      return text.join('\n');
     } else if (cmd === 'quit') {
       utils.exit();
     }
diff --git a/lib/dashboard/dashboard.js b/lib/dashboard/dashboard.js
index 9aa48b0c..82a8c136 100644
--- a/lib/dashboard/dashboard.js
+++ b/lib/dashboard/dashboard.js
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ class Dashboard {
     this.plugins = options.plugins;
     this.version = options.version;
     this.env = options.env;
+    this.contractsConfig = options.contractsConfig;
   }
 
   start(done) {
@@ -17,7 +18,7 @@ class Dashboard {
 
     async.waterfall([
       function startConsole(callback) {
-        console = new Console({plugins: self.plugins, version: self.version});
+        console = new Console({plugins: self.plugins, version: self.version, contractsConfig: self.contractsConfig});
         callback();
       },
       function startMonitor(callback) {
diff --git a/lib/index.js b/lib/index.js
index 13b6b11e..9e931ac1 100644
--- a/lib/index.js
+++ b/lib/index.js
@@ -76,7 +76,8 @@ class Embark {
           logger: engine.logger,
           plugins: engine.plugins,
           version: self.version,
-          env: engine.env
+          env: engine.env,
+          contractsConfig: engine.config.contractsConfig
         });
         dashboard.start(function () {
           engine.events.on('code-generator-ready', function () {