diff --git a/crates/rattler_conda_types/src/version_spec/constraint.rs b/crates/rattler_conda_types/src/version_spec/constraint.rs
index c041e5282..31897b126 100644
--- a/crates/rattler_conda_types/src/version_spec/constraint.rs
+++ b/crates/rattler_conda_types/src/version_spec/constraint.rs
@@ -236,9 +236,12 @@ mod test {
             Constraint::from_str("=1.2.*", Strict),
             Err(ParseConstraintError::GlobVersionIncompatibleWithOperator(_))
         );
-        assert_matches!(
-            Constraint::from_str("!=1.2.*", Strict),
-            Err(ParseConstraintError::GlobVersionIncompatibleWithOperator(_))
+        assert_eq!(
+            Constraint::from_str("!=1.2.*", Lenient),
+            Ok(Constraint::StrictComparison(
+                StrictRangeOperator::NotStartsWith,
+                Version::from_str("1.2").unwrap(),
+            ))
         );
         assert_matches!(
             Constraint::from_str(">=1.2.*", Strict),
diff --git a/crates/rattler_conda_types/src/version_spec/parse.rs b/crates/rattler_conda_types/src/version_spec/parse.rs
index 93dee07a9..00a4ee12c 100644
--- a/crates/rattler_conda_types/src/version_spec/parse.rs
+++ b/crates/rattler_conda_types/src/version_spec/parse.rs
@@ -210,7 +210,13 @@ fn logical_constraint_parser(
                 )),
                 Lenient,
             ) => VersionOperators::Range(RangeOperator::GreaterEquals),
-            ("*" | ".*", Some(VersionOperators::Exact(EqualityOperator::NotEquals)), Lenient) => {
+            (
+                "*" | ".*",
+                Some(VersionOperators::Exact(EqualityOperator::NotEquals)),
+                Lenient | Strict,
+            ) => {
+                // !=1.2.3.* is the only way to express a version should not start with 1.2.3 so
+                // even in strict mode we allow this.
                 VersionOperators::StrictRange(StrictRangeOperator::NotStartsWith)
             }
             ("*" | ".*", Some(op), Lenient) => {