diff --git a/packages/babel-core/src/config/helpers/config-api.js b/packages/babel-core/src/config/helpers/config-api.js
index a93756ae9f..7bce836629 100644
--- a/packages/babel-core/src/config/helpers/config-api.js
+++ b/packages/babel-core/src/config/helpers/config-api.js
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ function assertVersion(range: string | number): void {
     throw new Error("Expected string or integer value.");
   }
 
-  if (semver.satisfies(coreVersion, range)) return;
+  if (semver.satisfies(semver.coerce(coreVersion), range)) return;
 
   const limit = Error.stackTraceLimit;