--- ./portage.py.orig	2004-08-08 10:46:45.009821264 -0700
+++ ./portage.py	2004-08-08 11:05:33.467269656 -0700
@@ -3541,7 +3541,11 @@
 		if not operator:
 			return []
 	else:
-		operator = None
+		if mydep[0:2] == '=*':
+			operator = '=*'
+			mycpv = mydep[2:]
+		else:
+			operator = None
 
 	mylist = []