diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/test/versions.py b/lib/spack/spack/test/versions.py
index ce222c5ea2f..a33f7e08f70 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/test/versions.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/test/versions.py
@@ -373,6 +373,9 @@ def test_intersect_with_containment():
     check_intersection('1.6:1.6.5', ':1.6.5', '1.6')
     check_intersection('1.6:1.6.5', '1.6', ':1.6.5')
 
+    check_intersection('11.2', '11', '11.2')
+    check_intersection('11.2', '11.2', '11')
+
 
 def test_union_with_containment():
     check_union(':1.6', '1.6.5', ':1.6')
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/version.py b/lib/spack/spack/version.py
index 321a03efc7c..82c0afd53ec 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/version.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/version.py
@@ -372,8 +372,10 @@ def union(self, other):
 
     @coerced
     def intersection(self, other):
-        if self == other:
+        if self in other:  # also covers `self == other`
             return self
+        elif other in self:
+            return other
         else:
             return VersionList()