diff --git a/datasette/app.py b/datasette/app.py
index f5f3c048..02bd38f1 100644
--- a/datasette/app.py
+++ b/datasette/app.py
@@ -1100,6 +1100,7 @@ class Datasette:
                 ),
                 "base_url": self.setting("base_url"),
                 "csrftoken": request.scope["csrftoken"] if request else lambda: "",
+                "datasette_version": __version__,
             },
             **extra_template_vars,
         }
diff --git a/datasette/templates/api_explorer.html b/datasette/templates/api_explorer.html
index de5337e3..d5ab6363 100644
--- a/datasette/templates/api_explorer.html
+++ b/datasette/templates/api_explorer.html
@@ -10,14 +10,13 @@
 
 <h1>API Explorer</h1>
 
-<p>Use this tool to try out the Datasette write API.</p>
-
-{% if errors %}
-  {% for error in errors %}
-    <p class="message-error">{{ error }}</p>
-  {% endfor %}
-{% endif %}
-
+<p>Use this tool to try out the
+  {% if datasette_version %}
+    <a href="https://docs.datasette.io/en/{{ datasette_version }}/json_api.html">Datasette API</a>.
+  {% else %}
+    Datasette API.
+  {% endif %}
+</p>
 <details open style="border: 2px solid #ccc; border-bottom: none; padding: 0.5em">
   <summary style="cursor: pointer;">GET</summary>
   <form method="get" id="api-explorer-get" style="margin-top: 0.7em">
diff --git a/datasette/views/base.py b/datasette/views/base.py
index 6b01fdd2..d8fe71d0 100644
--- a/datasette/views/base.py
+++ b/datasette/views/base.py
@@ -507,7 +507,6 @@ class DataView(BaseView):
                         if key not in ("_labels", "_facet", "_size")
                     ]
                     + [("_size", "max")],
-                    "datasette_version": __version__,
                     "settings": self.ds.settings_dict(),
                 },
             }