diff --git a/src/errors.rs b/src/errors.rs
index 286a3c9a..855a23b5 100644
--- a/src/errors.rs
+++ b/src/errors.rs
@@ -147,8 +147,7 @@ pub enum BinstallError {
     ///
     /// This may be the case when using the `--version` option.
     ///
-    /// Note that using `--version 1.2.3` is interpreted as the requirement `^1.2.3` as per
-    /// Cargo.toml rules. If you want the exact version 1.2.3, use `--version '=1.2.3'`.
+    /// Note that using `--version 1.2.3` is interpreted as the requirement `=1.2.3`.
     ///
     /// - Code: `binstall::version::mismatch`
     /// - Exit: 82
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 73512c34..b5a8af31 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ use std::{
     ffi::OsString,
     path::{Path, PathBuf},
     process::{ExitCode, Termination},
-    str::FromStr,
     time::{Duration, Instant},
 };
 
@@ -239,13 +238,22 @@ async fn entry() -> Result<()> {
 
     info!("Installing package: '{}'", opts.crate_name);
 
-    let version = match (&opts.crate_name.version, &opts.version) {
+    let mut version = match (&opts.crate_name.version, &opts.version) {
         (Some(version), None) => version.to_string(),
         (None, Some(version)) => version.to_string(),
         (Some(_), Some(_)) => Err(BinstallError::DuplicateVersionReq)?,
         (None, None) => "*".to_string(),
     };
 
+    if version
+        .chars()
+        .next()
+        .map(|ch| ch.is_ascii_digit())
+        .unwrap_or(false)
+    {
+        version.insert(0, '=');
+    }
+
     // Fetch crate via crates.io, git, or use a local manifest path
     // TODO: work out which of these to do based on `opts.name`
     // TODO: support git-based fetches (whole repo name rather than just crate name)
@@ -256,22 +264,6 @@ async fn entry() -> Result<()> {
 
     let package = manifest.package.unwrap();
 
-    let is_plain_version = semver::Version::from_str(&version).is_ok();
-    if is_plain_version && package.version != version {
-        warn!("Warning!");
-        eprintln!(
-            "{:?}",
-            miette::Report::new(BinstallError::VersionWarning {
-                ver: package.version.clone(),
-                req: version.clone(),
-            })
-        );
-
-        if !opts.dry_run {
-            uithread.confirm().await?;
-        }
-    }
-
     let (mut meta, binaries) = (
         package
             .metadata