diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/lib/version/Dependency.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/lib/version/Dependency.py
index 01c710c8..3b85413c 100644
--- a/src/python/jw/pkg/lib/version/Dependency.py
+++ b/src/python/jw/pkg/lib/version/Dependency.py
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ class Dependency:  # export
         specified = self.__parsed_spec[1]
         if specified is None:
             return []
-        if not expanded or not specified.version.is_full:
+        if not expanded or specified.version.is_full:
             return (specified, )
         ret: list[Boundary] = []
         match specified.op:
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ class Dependency:  # export
 
     def version_boundaries(self, expanded: bool = False) -> Sequence[Boundary]:
         """The parsed version boundary, or the range it spans when
-        expanded is True and it pins a full version.
+        expanded is True and it does not pin a full version.
         """
         return self.__version_boundaries(expanded)
 
diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/lib/version/Version.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/lib/version/Version.py
index 0e204313..8f81f666 100644
--- a/src/python/jw/pkg/lib/version/Version.py
+++ b/src/python/jw/pkg/lib/version/Version.py
@@ -141,9 +141,8 @@ class Version:  # export
     def is_full(self) -> bool:
         """True if the spec pins a complete version: the
         VERSION-REVISION macro, or a literal of the form
-        MAJOR.MINOR.MICRO-REVISION. Only full versions have the
-        exclusive upper bound (next_binary_incompatible) that range
-        expansion relies on.
+        MAJOR.MINOR.MICRO-REVISION. Range expansion leaves full
+        versions exact and expands the non-full specs.
         """
         if self.__spec == 'VERSION-REVISION':
             return True
diff --git a/test/unit/python/jw/pkg/lib/version/test.py b/test/unit/python/jw/pkg/lib/version/test.py
index 74962bd1..5f03f9de 100644
--- a/test/unit/python/jw/pkg/lib/version/test.py
+++ b/test/unit/python/jw/pkg/lib/version/test.py
@@ -109,32 +109,28 @@ assert d.constraint_str() == 'foo = 1.2.3'
 assert d.constraint_str() == 'foo = 1.2.3'
 assert calls == ['foo']
 
-# as_range expands full boundaries into a revision range
+# as_range expands a non-full boundary into the range it spans
 d = Dependency('foo = VERSION-REVISION', app.get_version)
-assert d.constraint_str(as_range = True) == 'foo >= 1.2.3-45 foo < 1.2.4'
+assert d.constraint_str(as_range = True) == 'foo = 1.2.3-45'
 d = Dependency('foo >= VERSION-REVISION', app.get_version)
-assert d.constraint_str(as_range = True) == 'foo >= 1.2.3-45 foo < 1.2.4'
+assert d.constraint_str(as_range = True) == 'foo >= 1.2.3-45'
 d = Dependency('foo > 1.0.0-259', app.get_version)
-assert d.constraint_str(as_range = True) == 'foo > 1.0.0-259 foo < 1.0.1'
-# A raw render keeps the macro, with the computed bound alongside it
+assert d.constraint_str(as_range = True) == 'foo > 1.0.0-259'
+# A raw render keeps the macro as written
 d = Dependency('foo = VERSION-REVISION', app.get_version)
 constraint = d.constraint_str(untemplated = False, as_range = True)
-assert constraint == 'foo >= VERSION-REVISION foo < 1.2.4'
-# VERSION is not full, so a VERSION constraint is not expanded
+assert constraint == 'foo = VERSION-REVISION'
+# A full version stays exact; a non-full one expands
 d = Dependency('foo = VERSION', app.get_version)
-assert d.constraint_str(as_range = True) == 'foo = 1.2.3'
+assert d.constraint_str(as_range = True) == 'foo >= 1.2.3 foo < 1.2.4'
 d = Dependency('foo >= VERSION', app.get_version)
-assert d.constraint_str(as_range = True) == 'foo >= 1.2.3'
+assert d.constraint_str(as_range = True) == 'foo >= 1.2.3 foo < 1.2.4'
 # '<' and '<=' are not expanded
 d = Dependency('foo <= VERSION', app.get_version)
 assert d.constraint_str(as_range = True) == 'foo <= 1.2.3'
-# versions without a full major.minor.micro-revision are not expanded
-d = Dependency('foo = 1.0', app.get_version)
-assert d.constraint_str(as_range = True) == 'foo = 1.0'
+# The bound steps a micro, so a tripartite core expands
 d = Dependency('foo = 1.2.3', app.get_version)
-assert d.constraint_str(as_range = True) == 'foo = 1.2.3'
-d = Dependency('foo = 1.0-rc1', app.get_version)
-assert d.constraint_str(as_range = True) == 'foo = 1.0-rc1'
+assert d.constraint_str(as_range = True) == 'foo >= 1.2.3 foo < 1.2.4'
 # Default syntax is SEM_VER
 d = Dependency('foo < 2.0')
 assert d.constraint_str(untemplated = False) == 'foo < 2.0'