diff --git a/src/tribler/core/versioning/manager.py b/src/tribler/core/versioning/manager.py
index e0b5609505..8791a9e032 100644
--- a/src/tribler/core/versioning/manager.py
+++ b/src/tribler/core/versioning/manager.py
@@ -95,7 +95,9 @@ def can_upgrade(self) -> str | bool:
         if FROM not in self.get_versions():
             return False  # We can't upgrade from this version.
 
-        return FROM if (self.get_current_version() in [None, TO]) else False  # Always allow upgrades to git (None).
+        # Always allow upgrades to git (None).
+        current_version = self.get_current_version()
+        return FROM if (current_version is None or Version(TO) <= Version(current_version)) else False
 
     def perform_upgrade(self) -> None:
         """
diff --git a/src/tribler/test_unit/core/versioning/test_manager.py b/src/tribler/test_unit/core/versioning/test_manager.py
index 6c7a0198f9..3c3416b3fc 100644
--- a/src/tribler/test_unit/core/versioning/test_manager.py
+++ b/src/tribler/test_unit/core/versioning/test_manager.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 
 from ipv8.taskmanager import TaskManager
 from ipv8.test.base import TestBase
+from packaging.version import Version
 
 import tribler
 from tribler.core.versioning.manager import VersioningManager
@@ -173,6 +174,21 @@ def test_can_upgrade_to_current(self) -> None:
         with patch("os.path.isfile", lambda _: False):
             self.assertEqual(FROM, self.manager.can_upgrade())
 
+    def test_can_upgrade_to_current_soft(self) -> None:
+        """
+        Check if we can upgrade to the currently supported soft version.
+
+        For example, the database directory may be (hard) version ``8.0`` and the actual (soft) version ``8.0.3``.
+        """
+        self.manager.get_versions = Mock(return_value=[FROM])
+        db_version = Version(TO)
+        self.manager.get_current_version = Mock(
+            return_value=f"{db_version.major}.{db_version.minor}.{db_version.micro + 1}"
+        )
+
+        with patch("os.path.isfile", lambda _: False):
+            self.assertEqual(FROM, self.manager.can_upgrade())
+
     def test_can_upgrade_to_git(self) -> None:
         """
         Check if we can upgrade to the git version.