diff --git a/swh/storage/postgresql/db.py b/swh/storage/postgresql/db.py
--- a/swh/storage/postgresql/db.py
+++ b/swh/storage/postgresql/db.py
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@
 
     """
 
+    current_version = 161
+
     def mktemp_dir_entry(self, entry_type, cur=None):
         self._cursor(cur).execute(
             "SELECT swh_mktemp_dir_entry(%s)", (("directory_entry_%s" % entry_type),)
@@ -1328,3 +1330,13 @@
         row = cur.fetchone()
         if row:
             return row[0]
+
+    dbversion_cols = ["version", "release", "description"]
+
+    def dbversion(self):
+        with self.transaction() as cur:
+            cur.execute(f"SELECT {', '.join(self.dbversion_cols)} FROM dbversion")
+            return dict(zip(self.dbversion_cols, cur.fetchone()))
+
+    def check_dbversion(self):
+        return self.dbversion()["version"] == self.current_version
diff --git a/swh/storage/pytest_plugin.py b/swh/storage/pytest_plugin.py
--- a/swh/storage/pytest_plugin.py
+++ b/swh/storage/pytest_plugin.py
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@
                     "WHERE table_schema = %s",
                     ("public",),
                 )
-                tables = set(table for (table,) in cur.fetchall())
+                tables = set(table for (table,) in cur.fetchall()) - {"dbversion"}
                 for table in tables:
                     cur.execute("truncate table %s cascade" % table)
 
diff --git a/swh/storage/tests/test_postgresql.py b/swh/storage/tests/test_postgresql.py
--- a/swh/storage/tests/test_postgresql.py
+++ b/swh/storage/tests/test_postgresql.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 import attr
 import pytest
 
+from swh.storage.postgresql.db import Db
 from swh.storage.tests.storage_tests import TestStorage  # noqa
 from swh.storage.tests.storage_tests import TestStorageGeneratedData  # noqa
 from swh.storage.utils import now
@@ -254,3 +255,12 @@
 
         """
         assert swh_storage.flush() == {}
+
+    def test_dbversion(self, swh_storage):
+        with swh_storage.db() as db:
+            assert db.check_dbversion()
+
+    def test_dbversion_mismatch(self, swh_storage, monkeypatch):
+        monkeypatch.setattr(Db, "current_version", -1)
+        with swh_storage.db() as db:
+            assert db.check_dbversion() is False