diff --git a/asdf.lisp b/asdf.lisp
index baf3ff07dffdc33cf28ba6801ae94d3dfc1c7ef1..c3d6926921193c1764556b239f86d5ebf7613266 100644
--- a/asdf.lisp
+++ b/asdf.lisp
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@
   (defvar *asdf-version* nil)
   (defvar *upgraded-p* nil)
   (let* ((asdf-version ;; the 1+ helps the version bumping script discriminate
-          (subseq "VERSION:2.123" (1+ (length "VERSION"))))
+          (subseq "VERSION:2.006" (1+ (length "VERSION")))) ; same as 2.123
          (existing-asdf (fboundp 'find-system))
          (existing-version *asdf-version*)
          (already-there (equal asdf-version existing-version)))