diff --git a/rust2rpm/metadata.py b/rust2rpm/metadata.py
index 6dd8bb0..99debf3 100644
--- a/rust2rpm/metadata.py
+++ b/rust2rpm/metadata.py
@@ -220,10 +220,10 @@ class Metadata:
     def __init__(self, name, version):
         self.name = name
         self._version = version
-        version_normalized = Dependency._normalize_req(f"={self._version}")
-        if len(version_normalized) != 1:
-            raise Exception(f"Incorrect version: {self._version}")
-        self.version = version_normalized[0][1]
+        version_normalized = CargoSemVer.unparse_version(
+            CargoSemVer.coerce(
+                CargoSemVer.parse_version(self._version)))
+        self.version = version_normalized
         self.license = None
         self.license_file = None
         self.readme = None