diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/App.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/App.py
index 32a4db97..af9b9311 100644
--- a/src/python/jw/pkg/App.py
+++ b/src/python/jw/pkg/App.py
@@ -209,9 +209,8 @@ class App(Base):
         scope: Scope,
         names_only: bool,
     ) -> None:
-        dep = Dependency(spec)
-        name = dep.base_name
-        mod = dep.full_name
+        name = self.strip_module_from_spec(spec)
+        mod = re.split('([=><]+)', spec)[0].strip()
         if names_only:
             spec = name
         if spec in buf:
diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/lib/version/Dependency.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/lib/version/Dependency.py
index 01c710c8..8ed8ee3b 100644
--- a/src/python/jw/pkg/lib/version/Dependency.py
+++ b/src/python/jw/pkg/lib/version/Dependency.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ class Dependency:  # export
     class Error(ValueError):
         pass
 
-    __SPLIT_RE: ClassVar[re.Pattern[str]] = re.compile('([~=><!]+)')
+    __SPLIT_RE: ClassVar[re.Pattern[str]] = re.compile('([=><]+)')
 
     @property
     def __target_prefix(self) -> str:
@@ -45,12 +45,6 @@ class Dependency:  # export
             case 3:
                 if not parts[0] or not parts[2]:
                     self.__raise(f'Invalid dependency spec "{self.__spec}"')
-                if parts[1] not in ('=', '<', '<=', '>', '>='):
-                    self.__raise(
-                        f'Spec "{self.__spec}": unsupported operator '
-                        f'"{parts[1]}", supported operators are =, <, '
-                        '<=, > and >='
-                    )
                 if parts[2] == 'REVISION':
                     self.__raise(
                         f'Spec "{self.__spec}": a bare REVISION renders as a '
diff --git a/test/unit/python/jw/pkg/lib/version/test.py b/test/unit/python/jw/pkg/lib/version/test.py
index 07817f87..91783ae3 100644
--- a/test/unit/python/jw/pkg/lib/version/test.py
+++ b/test/unit/python/jw/pkg/lib/version/test.py
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ assert d.base_name == 'dev'
 assert d.full_name == 'dev'
 
 # Operators with and without whitespace
-for op in ['=', '<', '<=', '>', '>=']:
+for op in ['=', '==', '<', '<=', '>', '>=']:
     d = Dependency(f'foo {op} 1.0')
     assert d.base_name == 'foo'
     assert d.full_name == 'foo'
@@ -135,6 +135,14 @@ 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'
+# unimplemented operators raise
+d = Dependency('foo == 1.2.3-45', app.get_version)
+try:
+    d.constraint_str(as_range = True)
+    assert False, 'Should have raised'
+except NotImplementedError:
+    pass
+
 # Default syntax is SEM_VER
 d = Dependency('foo < 2.0')
 assert d.constraint_str(untemplated = False) == 'foo < 2.0'
@@ -230,26 +238,6 @@ for bad in ['', 'foo =', ' = 1.0']:
     except Dependency.Error:
         pass
 
-# Operators outside the supported set are rejected when parsed,
-# not folded into the package name or deferred to expansion
-for bad in [
-    'foo ~= 1.0',
-    'foo~=1.0',
-    'foo ~ 1.0',
-    'foo != 1.0',
-    'foo!=1.0',
-    'foo == 1.0',
-    'foo==1.0',
-    'foo === 1.0',
-    'foo << 1.0',
-    'foo >> 1.0',
-]:
-    try:
-        Dependency(bad).full_name
-        assert False, f'Should have raised for {bad!r}'
-    except Dependency.Error as e:
-        assert 'unsupported operator' in str(e)
-
 # str
 assert str(Dependency('foo-devel >= 1.0')) == 'foo-devel >= 1.0'
 assert str(Dependency('foo')) == 'foo'