diff --git a/imcsdk/imccoremeta.py b/imcsdk/imccoremeta.py
index 78237e5c..d07fc466 100644
--- a/imcsdk/imccoremeta.py
+++ b/imcsdk/imccoremeta.py
@@ -122,13 +122,13 @@ def _set_versions(self, match_obj):
 
         # for spin builds 4.0(1S52), the patch version will be None
         # In this scenario assume the version to be highest patch z
-        if self.__patch is None:
+        if self.__spin is not None and self.__patch is None:
             self.__patch = 'z'
-        elif self.__patch.isdigit() and self.__mr.isdigit():
+        elif self.__patch is not None and self.__mr is not None and self.__patch.isdigit() and self.__mr.isdigit():
             log.debug("Interim version encountered: %s. MR version has been bumped up." % self.version)
             self.__mr = str(int(self.__mr) + 1)
             self.__patch = 'a'
-        elif self.__patch.isalpha() and self.__spin:
+        elif self.__patch is not None and self.__patch.isalpha() and self.__spin:
             log.debug("Interim version encountered: %s. patch version has been bumped up." % self.version)
             self.__patch = str(chr(ord(self.__patch)+1))
         return True
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/common/test_imcversion.py b/tests/unit_tests/common/test_imcversion.py
index bb3dc32c..f47baf37 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/common/test_imcversion.py
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/common/test_imcversion.py
@@ -89,9 +89,7 @@ def test_gt_different_major_version():
 
 
 def test_patch_versions():
-    # when we don't see a patch version we use z
-    # so 2.0(12) will be considerde as 2.0(12z)
     version1 = ImcVersion("2.0(12b)")
     version2 = ImcVersion("2.0(12)")
-    assert_equal((version1 > version2), False)
+    assert_equal((version1 > version2), True)