diff --git a/server_addon/maya/client/ayon_maya/api/lib.py b/server_addon/maya/client/ayon_maya/api/lib.py
index 3b351ec1f0..0242dafc0b 100644
--- a/server_addon/maya/client/ayon_maya/api/lib.py
+++ b/server_addon/maya/client/ayon_maya/api/lib.py
@@ -1733,7 +1733,7 @@ def is_valid_reference_node(reference_node):
     """
     # maya 2022 is missing `isValidReference` so the check needs to be
     # done in different way.
-    if cmds.about(version=True) < 2023:
+    if int(cmds.about(version=True)) < 2023:
         try:
             cmds.referenceQuery(reference_node, filename=True)
             return True
diff --git a/server_addon/maya/client/ayon_maya/version.py b/server_addon/maya/client/ayon_maya/version.py
index 37f9026945..df66e3f399 100644
--- a/server_addon/maya/client/ayon_maya/version.py
+++ b/server_addon/maya/client/ayon_maya/version.py
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 """Package declaring AYON addon 'maya' version."""
-__version__ = "0.2.4"
+__version__ = "0.2.5"
diff --git a/server_addon/maya/package.py b/server_addon/maya/package.py
index 17614ed9c1..3dd863a1b3 100644
--- a/server_addon/maya/package.py
+++ b/server_addon/maya/package.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 name = "maya"
 title = "Maya"
-version = "0.2.4"
+version = "0.2.5"
 client_dir = "ayon_maya"
 
 ayon_required_addons = {