diff --git a/easybuild/tools/version.py b/easybuild/tools/version.py
index b5e82834cc..2ea349637d 100644
--- a/easybuild/tools/version.py
+++ b/easybuild/tools/version.py
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ def get_git_revision():
 
 def this_is_easybuild():
     """Standard starting message"""
-    top_version = max(FRAMEWORK_VERSION, EASYBLOCKS_VERSION)
+    top_version = max(FRAMEWORK_VERSION, LooseVersion(EASYBLOCKS_VERSION))
     msg = "This is EasyBuild %s (framework: %s, easyblocks: %s) on host %s."
     msg = msg % (top_version, FRAMEWORK_VERSION, EASYBLOCKS_VERSION, gethostname())