diff --git a/pytest/test_basic.py b/pytest/test_basic.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9517b510
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pytest/test_basic.py
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+from uncompyle6.scanner import get_scanner
+from uncompyle6.parser import get_python_parser
+
+def test_get_scanner():
+    # See that we can retrieve a scanner using a full version number
+    assert get_scanner('2.7.13')
+
+
+def test_get_parser():
+    # See that we can retrieve a sparser using a full version number
+    assert get_python_parser('2.7.13')
diff --git a/uncompyle6/parser.py b/uncompyle6/parser.py
index 9ab80c95..2225945d 100644
--- a/uncompyle6/parser.py
+++ b/uncompyle6/parser.py
@@ -14,6 +14,9 @@ from xdis.code import iscode
 from spark_parser import GenericASTBuilder, DEFAULT_DEBUG as PARSER_DEFAULT_DEBUG
 from uncompyle6.show import maybe_show_asm
 
+# FIXME: put in xdis
+from uncompyle6.scanner import version_str2float
+
 
 class ParserError(Exception):
     def __init__(self, token, offset):
@@ -605,7 +608,15 @@ def get_python_parser(
     explanation of the different modes.
     """
 
+    # If version is a string, turn that into the corresponding float.
+    if isinstance(version, str):
+        version = version_str2float(version)
+
     # FIXME: there has to be a better way...
+    # We could do this as a table lookup, but that would force us
+    # in import all of the parsers all of the time. Perhaps there is
+    # a lazy way of doing the import?
+
     if version < 3.0:
         if version == 1.5:
             import uncompyle6.parsers.parse15 as parse15
@@ -758,6 +769,7 @@ def python_parser(version, co, out=sys.stdout, showasm=False,
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     def parse_test(co):
         from uncompyle6 import PYTHON_VERSION, IS_PYPY
+        ast = python_parser('2.7.13', co, showasm=True, is_pypy=True)
         ast = python_parser(PYTHON_VERSION, co, showasm=True, is_pypy=IS_PYPY)
         print(ast)
         return
diff --git a/uncompyle6/scanner.py b/uncompyle6/scanner.py
index f66a477a..bd62c944 100755
--- a/uncompyle6/scanner.py
+++ b/uncompyle6/scanner.py
@@ -257,7 +257,30 @@ class Scanner(object):
 def parse_fn_counts(argc):
     return ((argc & 0xFF), (argc >> 8) & 0xFF, (argc >> 16) & 0x7FFF)
 
+
+# FIXME: put in xdis
+from xdis.magics import magics
+def version_str2float(version):
+    if version in magics:
+        magic = magics[version]
+        for v, m in list(magics.items()):
+            if m == magic:
+                try:
+                    return float(v)
+                except:
+                    pass
+                pass
+            pass
+    raise RuntimeError("Can't find a valid Python version for version %s"
+                       % version)
+    return
+
 def get_scanner(version, is_pypy=False, show_asm=None):
+
+    # If version is a string, turn that into the corresponding float.
+    if isinstance(version, str):
+        version = version_str2float(version)
+
     # Pick up appropriate scanner
     if version in PYTHON_VERSIONS:
         v_str = "%s" % (int(version * 10))
@@ -284,5 +307,6 @@ def get_scanner(version, is_pypy=False, show_asm=None):
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     import inspect, uncompyle6
     co = inspect.currentframe().f_code
+    scanner = get_scanner('2.7.13', True)
     scanner = get_scanner(uncompyle6.PYTHON_VERSION, IS_PYPY, True)
     tokens, customize = scanner.ingest(co, {})