diff --git a/src/radical/pilot/session.py b/src/radical/pilot/session.py
index 1d4325820..bb5c096ec 100644
--- a/src/radical/pilot/session.py
+++ b/src/radical/pilot/session.py
@@ -428,9 +428,7 @@ def _init_cfg_from_scratch(self):
                                         level=self._cfg.get('log_lvl'),
                                         debug=self._cfg.get('debug_lvl'))
 
-        from . import version_detail as rp_version_detail
-        self._log.info('radical.pilot version: %s', rp_version_detail)
-        self._log.info('radical.utils version: %s', ru.version_detail)
+        self._log_version()
 
         self._prof.prof('session_start', uid=self._uid)
 
@@ -438,6 +436,20 @@ def _init_cfg_from_scratch(self):
         self._rep.plain('[%s]' % self._uid)
 
 
+    # --------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    #
+    def _log_version(self):
+
+        from . import version        as rp_version
+        from . import version_detail as rp_version_detail
+
+        self._log.info('Session(%s, %s)', self._uid, self._role)
+        self._log.info('radical.pilot version: %s (%s)', rp_version,
+                                                         rp_version_detail)
+        self._log.info('radical.utils version: %s (%s)', ru.version,
+                                                         ru.version_detail)
+
+
     # --------------------------------------------------------------------------
     #
     def _init_cfg_from_dict(self):
@@ -480,9 +492,7 @@ def _init_cfg_from_dict(self):
                                         level=self._cfg.get('log_lvl'),
                                         debug=self._cfg.get('debug_lvl'))
 
-        from . import version_detail as rp_version_detail
-        self._log.info('radical.pilot version: %s', rp_version_detail)
-        self._log.info('radical.utils version: %s', ru.version_detail)
+        self._log_version()
 
         self._prof.prof('session_start', uid=self._uid)
 
@@ -509,11 +519,8 @@ def _init_cfg_from_registry(self):
                                         level=self._cfg.get('log_lvl'),
                                         debug=self._cfg.get('debug_lvl'))
 
-        from . import version_detail as rp_version_detail
-        self._log.info('radical.pilot version: %s', rp_version_detail)
-        self._log.info('radical.utils version: %s', ru.version_detail)
+        self._log_version()
 
-        self._log.debug('Session(%s, %s)', self._uid, self._role)
         self._prof.prof('session_start', uid=self._uid)