diff --git a/scripts/start-utils b/scripts/start-utils
index 00f8a9a4..21e57379 100755
--- a/scripts/start-utils
+++ b/scripts/start-utils
@@ -113,7 +113,9 @@ function normalizeMemSize() {
 
 function versionLessThan() {
   local activeParts
-  IFS=. read -ra activeParts <<<"${VANILLA_VERSION%%-*}"
+  version=${VANILLA_VERSION%%-*} # for snapshot/rc versions
+  version=${version##b} # for versions like b1.7.3
+  IFS=. read -ra activeParts <<<"${version}"
 
   local givenParts
   IFS=. read -ra givenParts <<<"$1"