diff --git a/tool/src/org/antlr/v4/Tool.java b/tool/src/org/antlr/v4/Tool.java
index ead63a6bd..f02875762 100644
--- a/tool/src/org/antlr/v4/Tool.java
+++ b/tool/src/org/antlr/v4/Tool.java
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ public class Tool {
 	public static final String VERSION;
 	static {
 		String version = Tool.class.getPackage().getImplementationVersion();
-		VERSION = version != null ? version : "4.2";
+		VERSION = version != null ? version : "4.3";
 	}
 
 	public static final String GRAMMAR_EXTENSION = ".g4";
diff --git a/tool/src/org/antlr/v4/codegen/Target.java b/tool/src/org/antlr/v4/codegen/Target.java
index 928d2626f..177639c6a 100644
--- a/tool/src/org/antlr/v4/codegen/Target.java
+++ b/tool/src/org/antlr/v4/codegen/Target.java
@@ -92,15 +92,15 @@ public abstract class Target {
      *  For now, a simple string match used on x.y of x.y.z scheme. We use a method to avoid mismatches
      *  between a template called VERSION. This value is checked against Tool.VERSION during load of templates.
      */
-    public abstract String getVersion();
+    public String getVersion() { return "4.3"; }
 
     public STGroup getTemplates() {
         if (templates == null) {
-            templates = loadTemplates();
             String version = getVersion();
             if (version == null || !version.equals(Tool.VERSION)) {
                 gen.tool.errMgr.toolError(ErrorType.INCOMPATIBLE_TOOL_AND_TEMPLATES, version, Tool.VERSION, language);
             }
+            templates = loadTemplates();
         }
 
 		return templates;