diff --git a/bioimageio/core/VERSION b/bioimageio/core/VERSION
index 835cc7ae..167d3d30 100644
--- a/bioimageio/core/VERSION
+++ b/bioimageio/core/VERSION
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 {
-    "version": "0.5.10"
+    "version": "0.5.11"
 }
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index c85245c3..3fc27a76 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
     ],
     packages=find_namespace_packages(exclude=["tests"]),  # Required
     install_requires=[
-        "bioimageio.spec==0.4.9",
+        "bioimageio.spec==0.4.9.*",
         "imageio>=2.5",
         "numpy",
         "ruamel.yaml",
diff --git a/tests/test_bioimageio_spec_version.py b/tests/test_bioimageio_spec_version.py
index 59cddd83..fcd95582 100644
--- a/tests/test_bioimageio_spec_version.py
+++ b/tests/test_bioimageio_spec_version.py
@@ -29,13 +29,11 @@ def test_bioimageio_spec_version():
     print(req)
     assert req.startswith("bioimageio.spec ==")
     spec_ver = req[len("bioimageio.spec ==") :]
-    assert spec_ver.count(".") == 2
-    pmaj, pmin, ppatchand_and_post = spec_ver.split(".")
-    assert (ppatchand_and_post.isdigit() or ppatchand_and_post[:-1].isdigit()) and (
-        ppatchand_and_post[-1] == "*" or ppatchand_and_post[-1].isdigit()
-    ), "bioimageio.spec version should be pinned down to patch, e.g. '0.4.9*'"
+    assert spec_ver.count(".") == 3
+    pmaj, pmin, ppatch, post = spec_ver.split(".")
+    assert (
+        pmaj.isdigit() and pmin.isdigit() and ppatch.isdigit() and post == "*"
+    ), "bioimageio.spec version should be pinned down to patch, e.g. '0.4.9.*'"
 
-    ppatch = ppatchand_and_post[:-1] if ppatchand_and_post[-1] == "*" else ppatchand_and_post
     pinned = Version(f"{pmaj}.{pmin}.{ppatch}")
-
-    assert pinned >= released, "bioimageio.spec pinned to an old version!"
+    assert pinned == released, "bioimageio.spec not pinned to the latest version"