diff --git a/datalad_dataverse/remote.py b/datalad_dataverse/remote.py
index f255f56..eaf6424 100644
--- a/datalad_dataverse/remote.py
+++ b/datalad_dataverse/remote.py
@@ -13,12 +13,11 @@
 
 from datalad_dataverse.utils import (
     get_native_api,
+    format_doi,
 )
 import os
 import re
 
-from datalad_dataverse.utils import format_doi
-
 
 from datalad.customremotes import SpecialRemote
 
@@ -31,10 +30,12 @@ def __init__(self, *args):
         self.configs['dlacredential'] = \
             'Identifier used to retrieve an API token from a local ' \
             'credential store'
+        self.configs['version'] = 'Dataverse dataset version'
         self._doi = None
         self._url = None
         self._api = None
         self._token = None
+        self._dataset_version = None
 
     def initremote(self):
         """
@@ -140,6 +141,14 @@ def api(self):
 
         return self._api
 
+    @property
+    def dataset_version(self):
+        if self._dataset_version is None:
+            self._dataset_version = self.annex.getconfig('version')
+            if len(self._dataset_version) == 0:
+                self._dataset_version = ":latest"
+        return self._dataset_version
+
     def prepare(self):
         # trigger API instance in order to get possibly auth/connection errors
         # right away
@@ -158,6 +167,8 @@ def checkpresentexport(self, key, remote_file):
         return self.checkpresent(key=remote_file)
 
     def transfer_store(self, key, local_file, datafile=None):
+        if not self.dataset_version == ':latest':
+            raise RuntimeError('Cannot store files if a specific version is checked out!')
         ds_pid = self.doi
         if datafile is None:
             datafile = Datafile()
@@ -185,12 +196,12 @@ def transfer_retrieve(self, key, file):
             # this relies on having established the NativeApi in prepare()
             api_token=self._token,
         )
-        dataset = self.api.get_dataset(identifier=self.doi)
+        dataset = self.api.get_dataset_version(identifier=self.doi, version=self.dataset_version)
 
         # http error handling
         dataset.raise_for_status()
 
-        files_list = dataset.json()['data']['latestVersion']['files']
+        files_list = dataset.json()['data']['files']
 
         # find the file we want to download
         file_id = None
@@ -214,6 +225,8 @@ def transferexport_retrieve(self, key, local_file, remote_file):
         self.transfer_retrieve(key=remote_file, file=local_file)
 
     def remove(self, key):
+        if not self.dataset_version == ':latest':
+            raise RuntimeError('Cannot remove file if a specific version is checked out!')
         # get the dataset and a list of all files
         dataset = self.api.get_dataset(identifier=self.doi)
         # http error handling