--- spamassassin/trunk/lib/Mail/SpamAssassin/Conf.pm	2014/11/27 18:51:04	1642206
+++ spamassassin/trunk/lib/Mail/SpamAssassin/Conf.pm	2014/11/27 18:54:32	1642207
@@ -3886,6 +3886,20 @@
 version, and z is maintenance version.  So 3.0.0 is C<3.000000>, and 3.4.80 is
 C<3.004080>.
 
+=item perl_version
+
+This will be replaced with the version number of the currently-running
+perl engine.  Note: The version used is in the $] version format which is
+C<x.yyyzzz>, where x is major version, y is minor version, and z is maintenance
+version.  So 5.8.8 is C<5.008008>, and 5.10.0 is C<5.010000>. Use to protect rules
+that incorporate RE syntax elements introduced in later versions of perl, such
+as the C<++> non-backtracking match. For example:
+
+  # Avoid lint error on older perl installs
+  if perl_version >= 5.010000
+    body  INVALID_RE_SYNTAX_IN_PERL_5_8_8  /\w++/
+  endif
+
 =item plugin(Name::Of::Plugin)
 
 This is a function call that returns C<1> if the plugin named