diff --git a/bitbake/lib/bb/utils.py b/bitbake/lib/bb/utils.py
index 4208c79343..e4c12fd1ab 100644
--- a/bitbake/lib/bb/utils.py
+++ b/bitbake/lib/bb/utils.py
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ def vercmp(ta, tb):
     (ea, va, ra) = ta
     (eb, vb, rb) = tb
 
-    r = int(ea)-int(eb)
+    r = int(ea or 0) - int(eb or 0)
     if (r == 0):
         r = vercmp_part(va, vb)
     if (r == 0):