diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/lib/version/Dependency.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/lib/version/Dependency.py
index dbf9d12e..8ed8ee3b 100644
--- a/src/python/jw/pkg/lib/version/Dependency.py
+++ b/src/python/jw/pkg/lib/version/Dependency.py
@@ -45,6 +45,11 @@ class Dependency:  # export
             case 3:
                 if not parts[0] or not parts[2]:
                     self.__raise(f'Invalid dependency spec "{self.__spec}"')
+                if parts[2] == 'REVISION':
+                    self.__raise(
+                        f'Spec "{self.__spec}": a bare REVISION renders as a '
+                        'bare number, which is likely not what the user intended'
+                    )
                 return parts[0], Boundary(
                     op=parts[1],
                     version=Version(parts[0], parts[2], self.__lookup_version),
diff --git a/test/unit/python/jw/pkg/lib/version/test.py b/test/unit/python/jw/pkg/lib/version/test.py
index 84be31d9..91783ae3 100644
--- a/test/unit/python/jw/pkg/lib/version/test.py
+++ b/test/unit/python/jw/pkg/lib/version/test.py
@@ -1,6 +1,3 @@
-import io
-
-from jw.pkg.lib.log import add_capture_stream, rm_capture_stream
 from jw.pkg.lib.version import Component, Dependency, Syntax, Version
 
 class FakeApp:
@@ -82,17 +79,13 @@ assert d.constraint_str(untemplated=False, include_revision=False) == \
 # untemplated=False keeps the specifiers as written
 d = Dependency('foo = VERSION', app.get_version)
 assert d.constraint_str(untemplated = False) == 'foo = VERSION'
-# REVISION resolves to the revision part
-d = Dependency('foo = REVISION', app.get_version)
-assert d.constraint_str() == 'foo = 45'
-assert d.constraint_str(untemplated = False) == 'foo = REVISION'
-# A bare REVISION warns: RPM reads a bare number as a version
-buf = io.StringIO()
-sd = add_capture_stream(buf)
-d = Dependency('foo = REVISION', app.get_version)
-assert d.constraint_str() == 'foo = 45'
-assert 'not a release constraint' in buf.getvalue()
-rm_capture_stream(sd)
+# A bare REVISION is rejected on the grounds that is assumed that
+# the user wanted VERSION instead
+try:
+    Dependency('foo = REVISION', app.get_version).constraint_str()
+    assert False, 'Should have raised'
+except Dependency.Error:
+    pass
 
 # The lookup uses the base name, not the subpackage name
 d = Dependency('foo-devel = VERSION', app.get_version)