diff --git a/nipype/interfaces/base/core.py b/nipype/interfaces/base/core.py
index 82da393a84..54c4302c7f 100644
--- a/nipype/interfaces/base/core.py
+++ b/nipype/interfaces/base/core.py
@@ -276,7 +276,18 @@ def _check_version_requirements(self, trait_object, raise_exception=True):
             version = LooseVersion(str(self.version))
             for name in names:
                 min_ver = LooseVersion(str(trait_object.traits()[name].min_ver))
-                if min_ver > version:
+                try:
+                    too_old = min_ver > version
+                except TypeError as err:
+                    msg = (
+                        f"Nipype cannot validate the package version {version!r} for "
+                        f"{self.__class__.__name__}. Trait {name} requires version >={min_ver}."
+                    )
+                    iflogger.warning(f"{msg}. Please verify validity.")
+                    if config.getboolean("execution", "stop_on_unknown_version"):
+                        raise ValueError(msg) from err
+                    continue
+                if too_old:
                     unavailable_traits.append(name)
                     if not isdefined(getattr(trait_object, name)):
                         continue
@@ -293,7 +304,18 @@ def _check_version_requirements(self, trait_object, raise_exception=True):
             version = LooseVersion(str(self.version))
             for name in names:
                 max_ver = LooseVersion(str(trait_object.traits()[name].max_ver))
-                if max_ver < version:
+                try:
+                    too_new = max_ver < version
+                except TypeError as err:
+                    msg = (
+                        f"Nipype cannot validate the package version {version!r} for "
+                        f"{self.__class__.__name__}. Trait {name} requires version <={max_ver}."
+                    )
+                    iflogger.warning(f"{msg}. Please verify validity.")
+                    if config.getboolean("execution", "stop_on_unknown_version"):
+                        raise ValueError(msg) from err
+                    continue
+                if too_new:
                     unavailable_traits.append(name)
                     if not isdefined(getattr(trait_object, name)):
                         continue
diff --git a/nipype/interfaces/base/tests/test_core.py b/nipype/interfaces/base/tests/test_core.py
index e97a5bab79..165b3532ab 100644
--- a/nipype/interfaces/base/tests/test_core.py
+++ b/nipype/interfaces/base/tests/test_core.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 # vi: set ft=python sts=4 ts=4 sw=4 et:
 import os
 import simplejson as json
+import logging
 
 import pytest
 from unittest import mock
@@ -236,6 +237,41 @@ class DerivedInterface1(nib.BaseInterface):
     obj._check_version_requirements(obj.inputs)
 
 
+def test_input_version_missing(caplog):
+    class DerivedInterface(nib.BaseInterface):
+        class input_spec(nib.TraitedSpec):
+            foo = nib.traits.Int(min_ver="0.9")
+            bar = nib.traits.Int(max_ver="0.9")
+
+        _version = "misparsed-garbage"
+
+    obj = DerivedInterface()
+    obj.inputs.foo = 1
+    obj.inputs.bar = 1
+    with caplog.at_level(logging.WARNING, logger="nipype.interface"):
+        obj._check_version_requirements(obj.inputs)
+    assert len(caplog.records) == 2
+
+
+def test_input_version_missing_error():
+    from nipype import config
+
+    class DerivedInterface(nib.BaseInterface):
+        class input_spec(nib.TraitedSpec):
+            foo = nib.traits.Int(min_ver="0.9")
+            bar = nib.traits.Int(max_ver="0.9")
+
+        _version = "misparsed-garbage"
+
+    with mock.patch.object(config, "getboolean", return_value=True):
+        obj = DerivedInterface(foo=1)
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+            obj._check_version_requirements(obj.inputs)
+        obj = DerivedInterface(bar=1)
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+            obj._check_version_requirements(obj.inputs)
+
+
 def test_output_version():
     class InputSpec(nib.TraitedSpec):
         foo = nib.traits.Int(desc="a random int")
@@ -457,7 +493,7 @@ def test_global_CommandLine_output(tmpdir):
     ci = BET()
     assert ci.terminal_output == "stream"  # default case
 
-    with mock.patch.object(nib.CommandLine, '_terminal_output'):
+    with mock.patch.object(nib.CommandLine, "_terminal_output"):
         nib.CommandLine.set_default_terminal_output("allatonce")
         ci = nib.CommandLine(command="ls -l")
         assert ci.terminal_output == "allatonce"