diff --git a/abuild.in b/abuild.in
index b718a67..23c9f96 100755
--- a/abuild.in
+++ b/abuild.in
@@ -712,7 +712,11 @@ depparse_aports() {
 }
 
 deptrace() {
-	local deps="$@"
+	local deps= i=
+	# strip versions from deps
+	for i in "$@"; do
+		deps="$deps ${i%[<>=]*}"
+	done
 	[ -z "$deps" ] && return 0
 	( 	depparse_aports 
 		if [ -z "$upgrade" ]; then