diff --git a/RELEASE_NOTES.rst b/RELEASE_NOTES.rst
index 7fb3cabb2..e68d64b8e 100644
--- a/RELEASE_NOTES.rst
+++ b/RELEASE_NOTES.rst
@@ -4,6 +4,12 @@ Release Notes
 *pytools* 1.0
 -------------
 
+1.0.4
+~~~~~
+
+- FIX: do not substitute ~= by ~== when adapting version syntax for tox
+
+
 1.0.3
 ~~~~~
 
diff --git a/make.py b/make.py
index e5139028e..859e616c2 100755
--- a/make.py
+++ b/make.py
@@ -335,7 +335,7 @@ def build_path_suffix(self) -> str:
 
     def adapt_version_syntax(self, version: str) -> str:
         # PIP expects == instead of =
-        return re.sub(r"(?<![<=>])=(?![<=>])", "==", version)
+        return re.sub(r"(?<![<=>~])=(?![<=>])", "==", version)
 
     def clean(self) -> None:
         # nothing to do – .tar.gz of same version will simply be replaced and