diff --git a/mastodon/internals.py b/mastodon/internals.py
index 5269880..29c4e4a 100644
--- a/mastodon/internals.py
+++ b/mastodon/internals.py
@@ -616,7 +616,10 @@ def __normalize_version_string(self, version_string):
         version_string = version_string.split(" ")[0]
         try:
             # Attempt to split at + and check if the part after parses as a version string, to account for hometown
-            parse_version_string(version_string.split("+")[1])
+            ver_parts = parse_version_string(version_string.split("+")[1])
+            # If the parsed version is less than 1.0, assume it's GoToSocial and return the *first* part
+            if ver_parts[0] < 1:
+                return version_string.split("+")[0]
             return version_string.split("+")[1]
         except:
             # If this fails, assume that if there is a +, what is before that is the masto version (or that there is no +)
diff --git a/tests/test_instance.py b/tests/test_instance.py
index ff86191..309e742 100644
--- a/tests/test_instance.py
+++ b/tests/test_instance.py
@@ -95,3 +95,4 @@ def test_version_parsing(api):
     assert parse_version_string(api._Mastodon__normalize_version_string("3.5.1+chitter6.6.6")) == (3, 5, 1)
     assert parse_version_string(api._Mastodon__normalize_version_string("3.5.0 (compatible; Pleroma 1.2.3)")) == (3, 5, 0)
     assert parse_version_string(api._Mastodon__normalize_version_string("3.2.1rc3 (compatible; Akkoma 3.2.4+shinychariot)")) == (3, 2, 1)
+    assert parse_version_string(api._Mastodon__normalize_version_string("3.5.3+0.17.3+git-6f4cb2f")) == (3, 5, 3)