diff --git a/src/scripts/xzless.in b/src/scripts/xzless.in
index cf61ab29..7215acec 100644
--- a/src/scripts/xzless.in
+++ b/src/scripts/xzless.in
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ if test "${LESSMETACHARS+set}" != set; then
 	LESSMETACHARS="$space$tab$nl'"';*?"()<>[|&^`#\$%=~'
 fi
 
-if test "$(less -V | { read _ ver _ && echo ${ver}; })" -ge 429; then
+if test "$(less -V | { read _ ver _ && echo ${ver%%.*}; })" -ge 429; then
 	# less 429 or later: LESSOPEN pipe will be used on
 	# standard input if $LESSOPEN begins with |-.
 	LESSOPEN="|-$xz -cdfq -- %s"