diff --git a/src/fu-tool.c b/src/fu-tool.c
index c8249e3e6..7df3bcfea 100644
--- a/src/fu-tool.c
+++ b/src/fu-tool.c
@@ -3331,7 +3331,7 @@ fu_util_version(FuUtilPrivate *priv, GError **error)
 
 	/* load engine */
 	if (!fu_util_start_engine(priv,
-				  FU_ENGINE_LOAD_FLAG_READONLY |
+				  FU_ENGINE_LOAD_FLAG_READONLY | FU_ENGINE_LOAD_FLAG_HWINFO |
 				      FU_ENGINE_LOAD_FLAG_BUILTIN_PLUGINS,
 				  priv->progress,
 				  error))