diff --git a/v4/range.go b/v4/range.go
index cee7b4b..c8604b4 100644
--- a/v4/range.go
+++ b/v4/range.go
@@ -327,7 +327,7 @@ func expandWildcardVersion(parts [][]string) ([][]string, error) {
 	for _, p := range parts {
 		var newParts []string
 		for _, ap := range p {
-			if strings.Contains(ap, "x") {
+			if containsWildcard(ap) {
 				opStr, vStr, err := splitComparatorVersion(ap)
 				if err != nil {
 					return nil, err
@@ -381,6 +381,12 @@ func expandWildcardVersion(parts [][]string) ([][]string, error) {
 	return expandedParts, nil
 }
 
+// containsWildcard returns true iff there's a wildcard in any of the major, minor or patch components
+func containsWildcard(v string) bool {
+	withoutPrereleaseBuildMeta := strings.Split(strings.Split(v, "+")[0], "-")[0]
+	return strings.Contains(withoutPrereleaseBuildMeta, "x")
+}
+
 func parseComparator(s string) comparator {
 	switch s {
 	case "==":
diff --git a/v4/range_test.go b/v4/range_test.go
index 6d20759..a789553 100644
--- a/v4/range_test.go
+++ b/v4/range_test.go
@@ -202,6 +202,7 @@ func TestGetWildcardType(t *testing.T) {
 		{"x", majorWildcard},
 		{"1.x", minorWildcard},
 		{"1.2.x", patchWildcard},
+		{"1.2.3-experimental", noneWildcard},
 		{"fo.o.b.ar", noneWildcard},
 	}
 
@@ -387,6 +388,16 @@ func TestParseRange(t *testing.T) {
 			{"1.2.3", true},
 			{"1.2.4", false},
 		}},
+		{"1.2.3-experimental.2", []tv{
+			{"1.2.3-experimental.1", false},
+			{"1.2.3-experimental.2", true},
+			{"1.2.3-experimental.3", false},
+		}},
+		{"1.2.3+experimental.2", []tv{
+			{"1.2.3+experimental.1", false},
+			{"1.2.3+experimental.2", true},
+			{"1.2.3+experimental.3", false},
+		}},
 		{"=1.2.3", []tv{
 			{"1.2.2", false},
 			{"1.2.3", true},