diff --git a/scripts/start-utils b/scripts/start-utils
index 497a4257..00f8a9a4 100755
--- a/scripts/start-utils
+++ b/scripts/start-utils
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ function normalizeMemSize() {
 
 function versionLessThan() {
   local activeParts
-  IFS=. read -ra activeParts <<<"${VANILLA_VERSION}"
+  IFS=. read -ra activeParts <<<"${VANILLA_VERSION%%-*}"
 
   local givenParts
   IFS=. read -ra givenParts <<<"$1"