diff --git a/autogen.sh b/autogen.sh
index 336e46d577..6b31fa205e 100755
--- a/autogen.sh
+++ b/autogen.sh
@@ -58,11 +58,11 @@ version_check ()
   #start checking the version
   debug "version check"
 
-  if [ "$pkg_major" \< "$MAJOR -o "$pkg_major" = $MAJOR" ]; then
+  if [ ! "$pkg_major" \> "$MAJOR" ]; then
     debug "$pkg_major <= $MAJOR"
     if [ "$pkg_major" \< "$MAJOR" ]; then
       WRONG=1
-    elif [ "$pkg_minor" \< "$MINOR -o $pkg_minor = $MINOR" ]; then
+    elif [ ! "$pkg_minor" \> "$MINOR" ]; then
       if [ "$pkg_minor" \< "$MINOR" ]; then
         WRONG=1
       elif [ "$pkg_micro" \< "$MICRO" ]; then