diff --git a/usr.sbin/pkg_install/version/pkg_version.pl b/usr.sbin/pkg_install/version/pkg_version.pl
index 8b48090acc1f..7118fab98e73 100755
--- a/usr.sbin/pkg_install/version/pkg_version.pl
+++ b/usr.sbin/pkg_install/version/pkg_version.pl
@@ -148,7 +148,18 @@ sub CompareNumbers {
 	    else {
 		$c1 =~ s/\d+//;
 		$c2 =~ s/\d+//;
-		return &CompareNumbers($c1, $c2);
+		if ($c1 eq $c2) {
+		    return 0;
+		}
+		elsif ($c1 eq "") {
+		    return -1;
+		}
+		elsif ($c2 eq "") {
+		    return 1;
+		}
+		else {
+		    return &CompareNumbers($c1, $c2);
+		}
 	    }
 	}
     }
diff --git a/usr.sbin/pkg_install/version/test-pkg_version.sh b/usr.sbin/pkg_install/version/test-pkg_version.sh
index 6c14c71f8432..3cfaea15cb13 100755
--- a/usr.sbin/pkg_install/version/test-pkg_version.sh
+++ b/usr.sbin/pkg_install/version/test-pkg_version.sh
@@ -61,8 +61,9 @@ test-pv 0.9 "<" 0.10 inequality
 test-pv 2.3p10 ">" 2.3p9 number/letter
 test-pv 1.6.0 ">" 1.6.0.p3 number/letter
 test-pv 1.0.b ">" 1.0.a3 number/letter
-test-pv 1.0a "<" 1.0 number/letter
-test-pv 5.0a "<" 5.0.b number/letter
+test-pv 1.0a ">" 1.0 number/letter
+test-pv 1.0a "<" 1.0b number/letter
+test-pv 5.0a ">" 5.0.b number/letter
 
 test-pv 1.5_1 ">" 1.5 portrevision
 test-pv 1.5_2 ">" 1.5_1 portrevision