diff --git a/python/pyplugin_installer/installer_data.py b/python/pyplugin_installer/installer_data.py
index cdbc2fc76df..eecd312d467 100644
--- a/python/pyplugin_installer/installer_data.py
+++ b/python/pyplugin_installer/installer_data.py
@@ -618,7 +618,7 @@ class Plugins(QObject):
       qgisMinimumVersion = pluginMetadata("qgisMinimumVersion").strip()
       if not qgisMinimumVersion: qgisMinimumVersion = "0"
       qgisMaximumVersion = pluginMetadata("qgisMaximumVersion").strip()
-      if not qgisMaximumVersion: qgisMaximumVersion = qgisMinimumVersion[0] + ".999"
+      if not qgisMaximumVersion: qgisMaximumVersion = qgisMinimumVersion[0] + ".99"
       #if compatible, add the plugin to the list
       if not isCompatible(QGis.QGIS_VERSION, qgisMinimumVersion, qgisMaximumVersion):
         error = "incompatible"
diff --git a/python/pyplugin_installer/version_compare.py b/python/pyplugin_installer/version_compare.py
index 358d6271571..49f2627b792 100644
--- a/python/pyplugin_installer/version_compare.py
+++ b/python/pyplugin_installer/version_compare.py
@@ -121,21 +121,9 @@ def compareVersions(a,b):
   b = normalizeVersion(b)
   if a == b:
     return 0
-  # convert the strings to the lists
+  # convert the strings to lists
   v1 = chopString(a)
   v2 = chopString(b)
-
-  # !! ensure the version contains at least 3 segments. Fill to "x.y.z with "999" segments if needed.
-  # 999 must me unicode because of isnumeric method used.
-  if len(v1) == 2:
-    v1 += [u"999"]
-  elif len(v1) == 1:
-    v1 += [u"999",u"999"]
-  if len(v2) == 2:
-    v2 += [u"999"]
-  elif len(v2) == 1:
-    v2 += [u"999",u"999"]
-
   # set the shorter string as a base
   l = len(v1)
   if l > len(v2):
@@ -159,9 +147,10 @@ def compareVersions(a,b):
 
 
 
-
-
-## COMPARE CURRENT QGIS VERSION WITH qgisMinimumVersion AND qgisMaximumVersion """
+"""
+COMPARE CURRENT QGIS VERSION WITH qgisMinimumVersion AND qgisMaximumVersion
+ALLOWED FORMATS ARE: major.minor OR major.minor.bugfix, where each segment must be 0..99
+"""
 
 def splitVersion(s):
   """ split string into 2 or 3 numerical segments """
@@ -171,7 +160,7 @@ def splitVersion(s):
   for c in l:
     if not c.isnumeric():
       return None
-    if int(c)>999:
+    if int(c)>99:
       return None
   if len(l) not in [2,3]:
     return None
@@ -188,7 +177,7 @@ def isCompatible(curVer, minVer, maxVer=None):
     return False
 
   if not maxVer:
-    maxVer = [minVer[0], "999", "999"]
+    maxVer = [minVer[0], "99", "99"]
 
   if len(minVer)<3:
     minVer += ["0"]
@@ -197,10 +186,10 @@ def isCompatible(curVer, minVer, maxVer=None):
     curVer += ["0"]
 
   if len(maxVer)<3:
-    maxVer += ["999"]
+    maxVer += ["99"]
 
-  minVer = "%03d%03d%03d" % ( int(minVer[0]), int(minVer[1]), int(minVer[2]) )
-  maxVer = "%03d%03d%03d" % ( int(maxVer[0]), int(maxVer[1]), int(maxVer[2]) )
-  curVer = "%03d%03d%03d" % ( int(curVer[0]), int(curVer[1]), int(curVer[2]) )
+  minVer = "%02d%02d%02d" % ( int(minVer[0]), int(minVer[1]), int(minVer[2]) )
+  maxVer = "%02d%02d%02d" % ( int(maxVer[0]), int(maxVer[1]), int(maxVer[2]) )
+  curVer = "%02d%02d%02d" % ( int(curVer[0]), int(curVer[1]), int(curVer[2]) )
 
   return ( minVer <= curVer and maxVer >= curVer)
diff --git a/src/app/qgspluginregistry.cpp b/src/app/qgspluginregistry.cpp
index 3d4d575311d..92bd195c438 100644
--- a/src/app/qgspluginregistry.cpp
+++ b/src/app/qgspluginregistry.cpp
@@ -207,11 +207,11 @@ bool QgsPluginRegistry::checkQgisVersion( QString minVersion, QString maxVersion
   }
 
   // Parse qgisMaxVersion. Must be in form x.y.z or just x.y
-  int maxVerMajor, maxVerMinor, maxVerBugfix = 999;
+  int maxVerMajor, maxVerMinor, maxVerBugfix = 99;
   if ( maxVersion.isEmpty() || maxVersion == "__error__" )
   {
     maxVerMajor = minVerMajor;
-    maxVerMinor = 999;
+    maxVerMinor = 99;
   }
   else
   {
@@ -252,16 +252,16 @@ bool QgsPluginRegistry::checkQgisVersion( QString minVersion, QString maxVersion
   int qgisMinor = qgisVersionParts.at( 1 ).toInt();
   int qgisBugfix = qgisVersionParts.at( 2 ).toInt();
 
-  // build strings with trailing zeroes
-  QString minVer = QString( "%1%2%3" ).arg( minVerMajor, 3, 10, QChar( '0' ) )
-                                      .arg( minVerMinor, 3, 10, QChar( '0' ) )
-                                      .arg( minVerBugfix, 3, 10, QChar( '0' ) );
-  QString maxVer = QString( "%1%2%3" ).arg( maxVerMajor, 3, 10, QChar( '0' ) )
-                                      .arg( maxVerMinor, 3, 10, QChar( '0' ) )
-                                      .arg( maxVerBugfix, 3, 10, QChar( '0' ) );
-  QString curVer = QString( "%1%2%3" ).arg( qgisMajor, 3, 10, QChar( '0' ) )
-                                      .arg( qgisMinor, 3, 10, QChar( '0' ) )
-                                      .arg( qgisBugfix, 3, 10, QChar( '0' ) );
+  // build XxYyZz strings with trailing zeroes if needed
+  QString minVer = QString( "%1%2%3" ).arg( minVerMajor, 2, 10, QChar( '0' ) )
+                                      .arg( minVerMinor, 2, 10, QChar( '0' ) )
+                                      .arg( minVerBugfix, 2, 10, QChar( '0' ) );
+  QString maxVer = QString( "%1%2%3" ).arg( maxVerMajor, 2, 10, QChar( '0' ) )
+                                      .arg( maxVerMinor, 2, 10, QChar( '0' ) )
+                                      .arg( maxVerBugfix, 2, 10, QChar( '0' ) );
+  QString curVer = QString( "%1%2%3" ).arg( qgisMajor, 2, 10, QChar( '0' ) )
+                                      .arg( qgisMinor, 2, 10, QChar( '0' ) )
+                                      .arg( qgisBugfix, 2, 10, QChar( '0' ) );
 
   // compare
   return ( minVer <= curVer && maxVer >= curVer);
diff --git a/src/app/qgspluginregistry.h b/src/app/qgspluginregistry.h
index c068e827f1d..0d6bfa8a48e 100644
--- a/src/app/qgspluginregistry.h
+++ b/src/app/qgspluginregistry.h
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ class QgsPluginRegistry
     bool checkPythonPlugin( QString packageName );
 
     //! Check current QGIS version against requested minimal and optionally maximal QGIS version
-    //! if maxVersion not specified, the default value is assumed: floor(minVersion) + 0.999.999
+    //! if maxVersion not specified, the default value is assumed: floor(minVersion) + 0.99.99
     bool checkQgisVersion( QString minVersion, QString maxVersion = "" );
 
   private: