diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index c84b46aa..25500aa8 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@ this project uses date-based 'snapshot' version identifiers.
 ### Added
 - Basic support for `make4ht`
 
+### Changed
+- Support `bidi` version string in `\special` lines (closes \#226)
+
 ## [2022-03-15]
 
 ### Changed
diff --git a/l3build-check.lua b/l3build-check.lua
index 81ce8427..94ffc671 100644
--- a/l3build-check.lua
+++ b/l3build-check.lua
@@ -246,6 +246,10 @@ local function normalize_log(content,engine,errlevels)
     if match(line, "^%.*\\special%{papersize") then
       return ""
     end
+    -- Remove bidi version in \special lines line
+    if match(line, "BIDI.Fullbanner") then
+      line = gsub(line,"Version %d*%.%d*", "Version ...")
+    end
     -- Remove ConTeXt stuff
     if match(line, "^backend         >") or
        match(line, "^close source    >") or