diff --git a/utils/mdakit.py b/utils/mdakit.py
index 3d166ac5..93892351 100644
--- a/utils/mdakit.py
+++ b/utils/mdakit.py
@@ -261,9 +261,11 @@ def get_matching_version(self, max_ver: str = "3.11", min_ver: str = "3.8",
 
         while (current_version.to_version() >= min_version.to_version()):
             for spec in pin_specifiers:
+                # Fetch the pin version string and convert it for comparison
+                pin_ver = version.TargetVersion.from_str(spec.version)
                 compatible_version = version._operators[spec.operator](
-                        current_version.to_string(),
-                        spec.version,
+                        current_version.to_version(),
+                        pin_ver.to_version(),
                 )
 
             if compatible_version: