diff --git a/core/src/main/java/hudson/PluginManager.java b/core/src/main/java/hudson/PluginManager.java
index 14bb1c1e0d..d6b02ad845 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/hudson/PluginManager.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/hudson/PluginManager.java
@@ -650,7 +650,17 @@ public abstract class PluginManager extends AbstractModelObject implements OnMas
                     continue;
                 }
 
-                String artifactId = dependencyToken.split(":")[0];
+                String[] artifactIdVersionPair = dependencyToken.split(":");
+                String artifactId = artifactIdVersionPair[0];
+                VersionNumber dependencyVersion = new VersionNumber(artifactIdVersionPair[1]);
+
+                PluginManager manager = Jenkins.getActiveInstance().getPluginManager();
+                VersionNumber installedVersion = manager.getPluginVersion(manager.rootDir, artifactId);
+                if (installedVersion != null && installedVersion.isNewerThan(dependencyVersion)) {
+                    // Do not downgrade dependencies that are already installed.
+                    continue;
+                }
+
                 URL dependencyURL = context.getResource(fromPath + "/" + artifactId + ".hpi");
 
                 if (dependencyURL == null) {