diff --git a/build/dependencies.yaml b/build/dependencies.yaml
index 737be934578..841462ad4a9 100644
--- a/build/dependencies.yaml
+++ b/build/dependencies.yaml
@@ -189,11 +189,14 @@ dependencies:
     - path: build/common.sh
       match: __default_go_runner_version=
 
-  - name: "registry.k8s.io/pause"
-    version: 3.9
-    refPaths:
-    - path: build/pause/Makefile
-      match: TAG\s*\?=
+  # TODO: enable once pause 3.10 is promoted
+  # https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/issues/125092
+  #
+  # - name: "registry.k8s.io/pause"
+  #   version: 3.10
+  #   refPaths:
+  #   - path: build/pause/Makefile
+  #     match: TAG\s*\?=
 
   - name: "registry.k8s.io/pause: dependents"
     version: 3.9
diff --git a/build/pause/CHANGELOG.md b/build/pause/CHANGELOG.md
index 4fb63bdf2d4..adad9f66033 100644
--- a/build/pause/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/build/pause/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+# 3.10
+
+* Add support for the -v flag on Windows. It prints the version similarly to Linux. ([#125067](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/125067), [@neolit123](https://github.com/neolit123))
+
 # 3.9
 
 * Unsupported Windows Semi-Annual Channel container images removed (OS Versions removed: 20H2). ([#112924](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/112924), [@marosset](https://github.com/marosset))
diff --git a/build/pause/Makefile b/build/pause/Makefile
index 1c49bf2fa42..30b18063d92 100644
--- a/build/pause/Makefile
+++ b/build/pause/Makefile
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 REGISTRY ?= staging-k8s.gcr.io
 IMAGE = $(REGISTRY)/pause
 
-TAG ?= 3.9
+TAG ?= 3.10
 REV = $(shell git describe --contains --always --match='v*')
 
 # Architectures supported: amd64, arm, arm64, ppc64le and s390x
diff --git a/build/pause/windows/pause.c b/build/pause/windows/pause.c
index 3af570a25b9..fc2ad11e8c5 100644
--- a/build/pause/windows/pause.c
+++ b/build/pause/windows/pause.c
@@ -16,6 +16,14 @@ limitations under the License.
 
 #include <windows.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
+#include <string.h>
+
+#define STRINGIFY(x) #x
+#define VERSION_STRING(x) STRINGIFY(x)
+
+#ifndef VERSION
+#define VERSION HEAD
+#endif
 
 BOOL WINAPI CtrlHandler(DWORD fdwCtrlType)
 {
@@ -34,8 +42,18 @@ BOOL WINAPI CtrlHandler(DWORD fdwCtrlType)
 	}
 }
 
-int main(void)
+int main(int argc, char **argv)
 {
+	int i;
+	for (i = 1; i < argc; ++i)
+	{
+		if (!_stricmp(argv[i], "-v"))
+		{
+			fprintf(stdout, "pause.c %s\n", VERSION_STRING(VERSION));
+			return 0;
+		}
+	}
+
 	if (SetConsoleCtrlHandler(CtrlHandler, TRUE))
 	{
 		Sleep(INFINITE);