diff --git a/bionic/deps/extras.py b/bionic/deps/extras.py
index 6ae1005e..37879039 100644
--- a/bionic/deps/extras.py
+++ b/bionic/deps/extras.py
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ def combine(*dep_lists):
         "flake8",
         "flake8-print",
         "flake8-fixme",
-        "sphinx",
+        "sphinx!=3.2.0",
         "sphinx_rtd_theme",
         "sphinx-autobuild",
         "nbsphinx",
diff --git a/bionic/deps/optdep.py b/bionic/deps/optdep.py
index e9c95b64..032c0d00 100644
--- a/bionic/deps/optdep.py
+++ b/bionic/deps/optdep.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ def first_token_from_package_desc(desc):
     if first_mismatch is None:
         return desc
 
-    if desc[first_mismatch.start()] not in " <>=":
+    if desc[first_mismatch.start()] not in " <>!=":
         raise AssertionError(
             oneline(
                 f"""