diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index f2c4d90cda7..6771d37a1b8 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -435,9 +435,9 @@ if(WITH_CORE)
   # required
   find_package(Proj REQUIRED)
   message(STATUS "Found Proj: ${PROJ_VERSION} ${PROJ_DIR}")
-  if(PROJ_VERSION_MAJOR LESS 8 OR (PROJ_VERSION_MAJOR EQUAL 8 AND (PROJ_VERSION_MINOR LESS 1)))
+  if(PROJ_VERSION_MAJOR VERSION_LESS "8.1")
     message(FATAL_ERROR "Cannot build QGIS using Proj older than 8.1")
-  endif(PROJ_VERSION_MAJOR LESS 8 OR (PROJ_VERSION_MAJOR EQUAL 8 AND (PROJ_VERSION_MINOR LESS 1)))
+  endif(PROJ_VERSION_MAJOR VERSION_LESS "8.1")
 
   find_package(GEOS REQUIRED)
   message(STATUS "Found Geos: ${GEOS_VERSION} ${GEOS_DIR}")