diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 75ee9c34..639d9318 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -119,6 +119,18 @@ Composer [blocks](https://getcomposer.org/doc/06-config.md#secure-http) you from
 
 However, it's always advised to setup HTTPS to prevent MITM code injection.
 
+## Version constraints
+
+Typically, Composer best practices dictate that exact versions (e.g., 8.1.1) be avoided. However, using an inexact version constraint (e.g., ^8.1) can cause patching failures when the upstream package is updated. You may optionally display a warning regarding the use of inexact version constraints by using the following configuration in composer.json:
+
+```
+  "extra": {
+    "inexact-constraint-warning": true
+  }
+```
+
+This will be displayed during `composer update`.
+
 ## Error handling
 
 If a patch cannot be applied (hunk failed, different line endings, etc.) a message will be shown and the patch will be skipped.
diff --git a/src/Patches.php b/src/Patches.php
index d1c1cf05..c5a1811b 100644
--- a/src/Patches.php
+++ b/src/Patches.php
@@ -15,12 +15,14 @@
 use Composer\EventDispatcher\EventSubscriberInterface;
 use Composer\IO\IOInterface;
 use Composer\Package\AliasPackage;
+use Composer\Package\Package;
 use Composer\Package\PackageInterface;
 use Composer\Plugin\PluginInterface;
 use Composer\Installer\PackageEvents;
 use Composer\Script\Event;
 use Composer\Script\ScriptEvents;
 use Composer\Installer\PackageEvent;
+use Composer\Semver\Constraint\MultiConstraint;
 use Composer\Util\ProcessExecutor;
 use Composer\Util\RemoteFilesystem;
 use Symfony\Component\Process\Process;
@@ -272,6 +274,11 @@ public function postInstall(PackageEvent $event) {
     }
     $this->io->write('  - Applying patches for <info>' . $package_name . '</info>');
 
+    $extra = $this->composer->getPackage()->getExtra();
+    if (!empty($extra['inexact-constraint-warning'])) {
+      $this->displayConstraintWarning($package);
+    }
+
     // Get the install path from the package object.
     $manager = $event->getComposer()->getInstallationManager();
     $install_path = $manager->getInstaller($package->getType())->getInstallPath($package);
@@ -287,6 +294,7 @@ public function postInstall(PackageEvent $event) {
 
     foreach ($this->patches[$package_name] as $description => $url) {
       $this->io->write('    <info>' . $url . '</info> (<comment>' . $description. '</comment>)');
+      
       try {
         $this->eventDispatcher->dispatch(NULL, new PatchEvent(PatchEvents::PRE_PATCH_APPLY, $package, $url, $description));
         $this->getAndApplyPatch($downloader, $install_path, $url);
@@ -306,6 +314,30 @@ public function postInstall(PackageEvent $event) {
     $this->writePatchReport($this->patches[$package_name], $install_path);
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Displays a warning if the package's version constraint is inexact.
+   *
+   * @param Composer\Package $package
+   *   The package for which to display the warning.
+   */
+  protected function displayConstraintWarning($package) {
+    // Gather all packages defined in root composer.json into a single array for version constraint access.
+    $root_requires = $this->composer->getPackage()->getRequires();
+    $root_dev_requires = $this->composer->getPackage()->getDevRequires();
+    $root_packages = array_merge($root_requires, $root_dev_requires);
+    $package_name = $package->getName();
+
+    if (!empty($root_packages[$package_name])) {
+      // If ^, ~, or * operators are being used, or this is a dev version without a hash specified, display warning.
+      /** @var MultiConstraint $link */
+      $link = $root_packages[$package_name]->getConstraint();
+      $version_constraint = $link->getPrettyString();
+      if (preg_match('/[\^~*]|(-dev)|(dev-)/', $version_constraint) && !strstr($version_constraint, '#')) {
+        $this->io->write("    <comment>$package_name has inexact version constraint. This may cause a patch failure now or in the future when the package is changed.</comment>");
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
   /**
    * Get a Package object from an OperationInterface object.
    *