diff --git a/NAMESPACE b/NAMESPACE
index 8570dae7..6bc39ca0 100644
--- a/NAMESPACE
+++ b/NAMESPACE
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ export(rust_source)
 export(to_toml)
 export(use_crate)
 export(use_extendr)
+export(use_extendr_badge)
 export(use_msrv)
 export(vendor_pkgs)
 export(write_license_note)
diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index a8c294cc..78f65fa8 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # rextendr (development version)
 
+* `use_extendr_badge()` has been added to add an extendr-specific badge to a `README.Rmd` via `usethis::use_badge()` <https://github.com/extendr/rextendr/pull/417>
 * Removes `Makevars.ucrt` as R versions < 4.1 are not supported by extendr <https://github.com/extendr/rextendr/pull/414> 
 * `purrr` has been replaced with [`R/standalone-purrr.R`](https://github.com/r-lib/rlang/blob/main/R/standalone-purrr.R) removing `purrr` from `Imports` <https://github.com/extendr/rextendr/pull/408>
 * `document()` will no longer try to save all open files using rstudioapi <https://github.com/extendr/rextendr/issues/404> <https://github.com/extendr/rextendr/issues/407>
diff --git a/R/badge.R b/R/badge.R
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..61815192
--- /dev/null
+++ b/R/badge.R
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+#' extendr README badge
+#'
+#' Add the version of extendr being used by an R package to its README.
+#'
+#' Requires `usethis` to be available.
+#'
+#' @examples
+#' \dontrun{
+#' use_extendr_badge()
+#' }
+#'
+#' @inheritParams use_extendr
+#' @export
+use_extendr_badge <- function(path = ".") {
+  rlang::check_installed("usethis")
+  meta <- read_cargo_metadata(path)
+  deps <- meta[[c("packages", "dependencies")]][[1]]
+
+  if (rlang::is_null(deps)) {
+    cli::cli_abort("Unable to determine version of `extendr-api`")
+  }
+
+  is_extendr <- which(deps$name == "extendr-api")
+  if (!rlang::is_bare_numeric(is_extendr, 1)) {
+    cli::cli_abort("Unable to determine version of `extendr-api`")
+  }
+
+  extendr_version <- deps$req[is_extendr]
+
+  usethis::use_badge(
+    "extendr",
+    "https://extendr.github.io/extendr/extendr_api/",
+    sprintf("https://img.shields.io/badge/extendr-%s-276DC2", extendr_version)
+  )
+}
diff --git a/R/use_extendr.R b/R/use_extendr.R
index 499db4ba..5568557a 100644
--- a/R/use_extendr.R
+++ b/R/use_extendr.R
@@ -198,6 +198,9 @@ use_extendr <- function(path = ".",
     Sys.chmod("configure", "0755")
   }
 
+  # Set the minimum version of R to 4.2 as now required by libR-sys 0.7
+  usethis::use_package("R", "Depends", "4.2")
+
   # the temporary cargo directory must be ignored
   usethis::use_build_ignore("src/.cargo")
 
@@ -217,6 +220,9 @@ use_extendr <- function(path = ".",
   usethis::use_build_ignore("src/Makevars.win")
   usethis::use_git_ignore("src/Makevars.win")
 
+
+  use_extendr_badge()
+
   if (!isTRUE(quiet)) {
     cli::cli_alert_success("Finished configuring {.pkg extendr} for package {.pkg {pkg_name}}.")
     cli::cli_ul(
diff --git a/_pkgdown.yml b/_pkgdown.yml
index 8fc013b3..716b3cfd 100644
--- a/_pkgdown.yml
+++ b/_pkgdown.yml
@@ -32,3 +32,4 @@ reference:
   - make_module_macro
   - rust_sitrep
   - read_cargo_metadata
+  - use_extendr_badge
diff --git a/man/use_extendr_badge.Rd b/man/use_extendr_badge.Rd
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2b71af93
--- /dev/null
+++ b/man/use_extendr_badge.Rd
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+% Generated by roxygen2: do not edit by hand
+% Please edit documentation in R/badge.R
+\name{use_extendr_badge}
+\alias{use_extendr_badge}
+\title{extendr README badge}
+\usage{
+use_extendr_badge(path = ".")
+}
+\arguments{
+\item{path}{File path to the package for which to generate wrapper code.}
+}
+\description{
+Add the version of extendr being used by an R package to its README.
+}
+\details{
+Requires \code{usethis} to be available.
+}
+\examples{
+\dontrun{
+use_extendr_badge()
+}
+
+}
diff --git a/tests/testthat/_snaps/use_extendr.md b/tests/testthat/_snaps/use_extendr.md
index 12969ea5..bcea8be6 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/_snaps/use_extendr.md
+++ b/tests/testthat/_snaps/use_extendr.md
@@ -397,6 +397,13 @@
       > File 'tools/msrv.R' already exists. Skip writing the file.
       > File 'configure' already exists. Skip writing the file.
       > File 'configure.win' already exists. Skip writing the file.
+      ! Can't find a README for the current project.
+      i See `usethis::use_readme_rmd()` for help creating this file.
+      i Badge link will only be printed to screen.
+      [ ] Copy and paste the following lines into 'README':
+        <!-- badges: start -->
+        [![extendr](https://img.shields.io/badge/extendr-*-276DC2)](https://extendr.github.io/extendr/extendr_api/)
+        <!-- badges: end -->
       v Finished configuring extendr for package testpkg.wrap.
       * Please run `rextendr::document()` for changes to take effect.
 
@@ -416,6 +423,13 @@
       v Writing 'tools/msrv.R'
       v Writing 'configure'
       v Writing 'configure.win'
+      ! Can't find a README for the current project.
+      i See `usethis::use_readme_rmd()` for help creating this file.
+      i Badge link will only be printed to screen.
+      [ ] Copy and paste the following lines into 'README':
+        <!-- badges: start -->
+        [![extendr](https://img.shields.io/badge/extendr-*-276DC2)](https://extendr.github.io/extendr/extendr_api/)
+        <!-- badges: end -->
       v Finished configuring extendr for package testpkg.
       * Please run `rextendr::document()` for changes to take effect.