diff --git a/octoprint_octolapse/test/test_migration_version.py b/octoprint_octolapse/test/test_migration_version.py
index c93c84b4..4f6eb444 100644
--- a/octoprint_octolapse/test/test_migration_version.py
+++ b/octoprint_octolapse/test/test_migration_version.py
@@ -20,6 +20,15 @@ def test_version(self):
 
         # test stripping off commit level version info
         test_version = NumberedVersion('0.4.0rc1+u.dec65f5')
+        # make sure identical version numbers are considered to be equal
+        assert (
+            NumberedVersion('0.4.0rc1') == NumberedVersion('0.4.0rc1')
+        )
+
+        # make sure V prefixes are ignored version numbers are considered to be equal
+        assert (
+            NumberedVersion('v0.4.0rc1') == NumberedVersion('0.4.0rc1')
+        )
 
         # make sure that rc is always greater than rcX.devX
         assert (
diff --git a/octoprint_octolapse_setuptools/__init__.py b/octoprint_octolapse_setuptools/__init__.py
index 1df4574e..d40274ec 100644
--- a/octoprint_octolapse_setuptools/__init__.py
+++ b/octoprint_octolapse_setuptools/__init__.py
@@ -31,6 +31,9 @@ class NumberedVersion(version.LooseVersion):
         exists.
     '''
     def __init__(self, vstring=None, pre_release_tags=['rc'], development_tags=['dev']):
+        # trim vstring
+        if vstring != None:
+            vstring = vstring.strip()
         self.pre_release_tags = pre_release_tags
         self.development_tags = development_tags
         self.original_string = vstring
@@ -46,7 +49,11 @@ def __init__(self, vstring=None, pre_release_tags=['rc'], development_tags=['dev
         self.commit_guid = ''
         self.is_dirty = False
 
-        # First, find any pluses that contain commit level info
+        # strip off any leading V or v
+        if len(vstring) > 0 and vstring[0].upper() == "V":
+            vstring = vstring[1:]
+
+        # find any pluses that contain commit level info
         if '+' in vstring:
             index = vstring.find('+')
             # make sure there is info after the '+'