diff --git a/nvm.sh b/nvm.sh
index d943896..7af2029 100755
--- a/nvm.sh
+++ b/nvm.sh
@@ -715,6 +715,11 @@ nvm_ensure_version_installed() {
   LOCAL_VERSION="$(nvm_version "${PROVIDED_VERSION}")"
   EXIT_CODE="$?"
   local NVM_VERSION_DIR
+
+  if [ "_$PROVIDED_VERSION" = "_N/A" ] && [ ! -d "$NVM_RC_VERSION" ] ; then
+    PROVIDED_VERSION="$(nvm_ensure_version_prefix "$NVM_RC_VERSION")"
+  fi
+
   if [ "${EXIT_CODE}" != "0" ] || ! nvm_is_version_installed "${LOCAL_VERSION}"; then
     if VERSION="$(nvm_resolve_alias "${PROVIDED_VERSION}")"; then
       nvm_err "N/A: version \"${PROVIDED_VERSION} -> ${VERSION}\" is not yet installed."
diff --git a/test/slow/nvm use/Running 'nvm use' displays .nvmrc version in output messages b/test/slow/nvm use/Running 'nvm use' displays .nvmrc version in output messages
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..2da38c3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/slow/nvm use/Running 'nvm use' displays .nvmrc version in output messages	
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+set -ex
+
+die () { echo $@ ; exit 1; }
+
+. ../../../nvm.sh
+
+echo "v0.10.28" > .nvmrc
+OUTPUT="$(nvm use 2>&1 >/dev/null | awk 'NR==1')"
+EXPECTED_OUTPUT='N/A: version "v0.10.28" is not yet installed.'
+TESTTT="$(nvm use 2>&1 >/dev/null)"
+TESTT="$(nvm use 2>&1)"
+TEST="$(nvm use)"
+
+[ "_$OUTPUT" = "_$EXPECTED_OUTPUT" ] \
+  || die "'nvm use' did not output: '$EXPECTED_OUTPUT'; got: '$OUTPUT'; Normal: $TEST; with 2>&1: $TESTT; with /null: $TESTTT"
+
+OUTPUT="$(nvm use 2>&1 >/dev/null | awk 'NR==3')"
+EXPECTED_OUTPUT='You need to run "nvm install v0.10.28" to install it before using it.'
+
+[ "_$OUTPUT" = "_$EXPECTED_OUTPUT" ] \
+  || die "'nvm use' did not output: '$EXPECTED_OUTPUT'; got: '$OUTPUT'"
diff --git a/test/slow/nvm use/setup_dir b/test/slow/nvm use/setup_dir
index e917f0b..d32b97a 100755
--- a/test/slow/nvm use/setup_dir	
+++ b/test/slow/nvm use/setup_dir	
@@ -19,5 +19,9 @@ for VERSION in "1.0.0" "1.0.1"; do
   nvm install "iojs-v$VERSION"
 done
 
+if [ -f ".nvmrc" ]; then
+  mv .nvmrc .nvmrc.bak
+fi
+
 nvm_make_alias lts/testing 0.10.1
 nvm_make_alias 'lts/*' lts/testing
diff --git a/test/slow/nvm use/teardown_dir b/test/slow/nvm use/teardown_dir
index 947be61..657de1d 100755
--- a/test/slow/nvm use/teardown_dir	
+++ b/test/slow/nvm use/teardown_dir	
@@ -20,3 +20,9 @@ if [ -d "${NVM_DIR}/.nvm_use_lts_alias_bak" ]; then
   mv "${NVM_DIR}/.nvm_use_lts_alias_bak/*" "${NVM_DIR}/alias/lts/"
   rmdir "${NVM_DIR}/.nvm_use_lts_alias_bak"
 fi
+
+rm .nvmrc
+
+if [ -f ".nvmrc.bak" ]; then
+  mv .nvmrc.bak .nvmrc
+fi