diff --git a/compose/config/config.py b/compose/config/config.py
index f64dc04a0..84933e9c9 100644
--- a/compose/config/config.py
+++ b/compose/config/config.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import functools
 import io
 import logging
 import os
+import re
 import string
 import sys
 from collections import namedtuple
@@ -214,6 +215,12 @@ class ConfigFile(namedtuple('_ConfigFile', 'filename config')):
                 .format(self.filename, VERSION_EXPLANATION)
             )
 
+        version_pattern = re.compile(r"^[2-9]+(\.\d+)?$")
+        if not version_pattern.match(version):
+            raise ConfigurationError(
+                'Version "{}" in "{}" is invalid.'
+                .format(version, self.filename))
+
         if version == '2':
             return const.COMPOSEFILE_V2_0
 
diff --git a/tests/unit/config/config_test.py b/tests/unit/config/config_test.py
index 0d3f49b99..0f744e22a 100644
--- a/tests/unit/config/config_test.py
+++ b/tests/unit/config/config_test.py
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ from random import shuffle
 import py
 import pytest
 import yaml
+from ddt import data
+from ddt import ddt
 
 from ...helpers import build_config_details
 from ...helpers import BUSYBOX_IMAGE_WITH_TAG
@@ -68,6 +70,7 @@ def secret_sort(secrets):
     return sorted(secrets, key=itemgetter('source'))
 
 
+@ddt
 class ConfigTest(unittest.TestCase):
 
     def test_load(self):
@@ -1885,6 +1888,26 @@ class ConfigTest(unittest.TestCase):
             }
         ]
 
+    @data(
+        '2 ',
+        '3.',
+        '3.0.0',
+        '3.0.a',
+        '3.a',
+        '3a')
+    def test_invalid_version_formats(self, version):
+        content = {
+            'version': version,
+            'services': {
+                'web': {
+                    'image': 'alpine',
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        with pytest.raises(ConfigurationError) as exc:
+            config.load(build_config_details(content))
+        assert 'Version "{}" in "filename.yml" is invalid.'.format(version) in exc.exconly()
+
     def test_group_add_option(self):
         actual = config.load(build_config_details({
             'version': '2',