diff --git a/tmux.conf b/tmux.conf
index 84a0e9d..d675b64 100644
--- a/tmux.conf
+++ b/tmux.conf
@@ -57,6 +57,5 @@ set-window-option -g window-status-current-fg black
 set-option -g status-right '%d %b %Y @ %k:%M'
 
 # because the new tmux is inadequate
-source-file ~/.tmux.1-8.conf # always source the 1.8 file
-if-shell "[[ `tmux -V | cut -d' ' -f2` -ge 1.9 ]]" \
-  "source-file ~/.tmux.1-9.conf"
+source-file ~/.tmux.1-9.conf
+if-shell "[[ `tmux -V` == *1.8 ]]" 'source-file ~/.tmux.1-8.conf'