diff --git a/artiq/coredevice/comm_generic.py b/artiq/coredevice/comm_generic.py
index 429569e2d..733bf53c7 100644
--- a/artiq/coredevice/comm_generic.py
+++ b/artiq/coredevice/comm_generic.py
@@ -233,9 +233,7 @@ class CommGeneric:
             raise UnsupportedDevice("Unsupported runtime ID: {}"
                                     .format(runtime_id))
         gateware_version = self._read_chunk(self._read_length).decode("utf-8")
-        gateware_release = gateware_version.split("+")[0]
-        software_release = software_version.split("+")[0]
-        if gateware_release != software_release:
+        if gateware_version != software_version:
             logger.warning("Mismatch between gateware (%s) "
                            "and software (%s) versions",
                            gateware_version, software_version)