diff --git a/mesonbuild/interpreter.py b/mesonbuild/interpreter.py
index 564558e7f..c18447e01 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/interpreter.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/interpreter.py
@@ -2153,7 +2153,7 @@ external dependencies (including libraries) must go to "dependencies".''')
         if 'version' in kwargs:
             pv = subi.project_version
             wanted = kwargs['version']
-            if pv == 'undefined' or not mesonlib.version_compare(pv, wanted):
+            if pv == 'undefined' or not mesonlib.version_compare_many(pv, wanted):
                 raise InterpreterException('Subproject %s version is %s but %s required.' % (dirname, pv, wanted))
         self.active_projectname = current_active
         self.build.subprojects[dirname] = subi.project_version