diff --git a/tooling/exam/container/src/main/java/org/apache/karaf/tooling/exam/container/internal/adaptions/KarafManipulatorFactory.java b/tooling/exam/container/src/main/java/org/apache/karaf/tooling/exam/container/internal/adaptions/KarafManipulatorFactory.java
index 2fac855..2863784 100644
--- a/tooling/exam/container/src/main/java/org/apache/karaf/tooling/exam/container/internal/adaptions/KarafManipulatorFactory.java
+++ b/tooling/exam/container/src/main/java/org/apache/karaf/tooling/exam/container/internal/adaptions/KarafManipulatorFactory.java
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ public final class KarafManipulatorFactory {
     }
 
     public static KarafManipulator createManipulator(String karafVersion) {
-        Version version = new Version(karafVersion.replaceFirst("-", "."));
+        Version version = new Version(karafVersion);
         if (version.getMajor() < 2 || version.getMajor() == 2 && version.getMinor() < 2) {
             throw new IllegalArgumentException("Karaf versions < 2.2.0 are not supported");
         }