diff --git a/tasks/sc2.py b/tasks/sc2.py
index ee102c13..fc227f0b 100644
--- a/tasks/sc2.py
+++ b/tasks/sc2.py
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@
     replace_agent as replace_kata_agent,
     replace_shim as replace_kata_shim,
 )
-from tasks.util.kernel import get_host_kernel_expected_version, get_host_kernel_version
+from tasks.util.kernel import get_host_kernel_expected_prefix, get_host_kernel_version
 from tasks.util.kubeadm import run_kubectl_command
 from tasks.util.registry import (
     HOST_CERT_DIR,
@@ -223,10 +223,10 @@ def deploy(ctx, debug=False, clean=False):
 
     # Fail-fast if we are not using the expected host kernel
     host_kernel_version = get_host_kernel_version()
-    host_kernel_expected_version = get_host_kernel_expected_version()
-    if host_kernel_version != host_kernel_expected_version:
+    host_kernel_expected_prefix = get_host_kernel_expected_prefix()
+    if not host_kernel_version.startswith(host_kernel_expected_prefix):
         print(
-            f"ERROR: wrong host kernel: expected {host_kernel_expected_version} "
+            f"ERROR: wrong host kernel: expected prefix {host_kernel_expected_prefix} "
             f"- got {host_kernel_version}"
         )
         print("ERROR: install the right host kernel (./docs/host_kernel.md)")
diff --git a/tasks/util/kernel.py b/tasks/util/kernel.py
index bd4b1179..42dc3b90 100644
--- a/tasks/util/kernel.py
+++ b/tasks/util/kernel.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 from tasks.util.versions import HOST_KERNEL_VERSION_SNP, HOST_KERNEL_VERSION_TDX
 
 
-def get_host_kernel_expected_version():
+def get_host_kernel_expected_prefix():
     sc2_runtime_class = environ["SC2_RUNTIME_CLASS"]
     if "snp" in sc2_runtime_class:
         return HOST_KERNEL_VERSION_SNP
diff --git a/tasks/util/versions.py b/tasks/util/versions.py
index 8079a1df..acda86e4 100644
--- a/tasks/util/versions.py
+++ b/tasks/util/versions.py
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
 # Kernel versions
 # WARNING: if we update the host kernel version, make sure to update it in the
 # table in ./docs/host_kernel.md
-HOST_KERNEL_VERSION_SNP = "6.11.0-snp-host-cc2568386+"
+HOST_KERNEL_VERSION_SNP = "6.11.0-snp-host-cc2568386"
 HOST_KERNEL_VERSION_TDX = "6.8.0-1013-intel"
 GUEST_KERNEL_VERSION = "6.12.8"