diff --git a/api/ocm/compdesc/componentdescriptor.go b/api/ocm/compdesc/componentdescriptor.go
index 13e73e4f4..2d80753e8 100644
--- a/api/ocm/compdesc/componentdescriptor.go
+++ b/api/ocm/compdesc/componentdescriptor.go
@@ -233,10 +233,7 @@ func (o *ElementMeta) AddExtraIdentity(identity metav1.Identity) {
 
 // GetIdentity returns the identity of the object.
 func (o *ElementMeta) GetIdentity(accessor ElementListAccessor) metav1.Identity {
-	identity := o.ExtraIdentity.Copy()
-	if identity == nil {
-		identity = metav1.Identity{}
-	}
+	identity := o.GetExtraIdentity()
 	identity[SystemIdentityName] = o.Name
 	if identity.Get(SystemIdentityVersion) == "" && accessor != nil {
 		found := false
@@ -266,7 +263,7 @@ func (o *ElementMeta) GetRawIdentity() metav1.Identity {
 		identity = metav1.Identity{}
 	}
 	identity[SystemIdentityName] = o.Name
-	if o.Version != "" {
+	if _, ok := identity[SystemIdentityVersion]; !ok && o.Version != "" {
 		identity[SystemIdentityVersion] = o.Version
 	}
 	return identity
@@ -279,8 +276,9 @@ func (o *ElementMeta) GetMatchBaseIdentity() metav1.Identity {
 		identity = metav1.Identity{}
 	}
 	identity[SystemIdentityName] = o.Name
-	identity[SystemIdentityVersion] = o.Version
-
+	if _, ok := identity[SystemIdentityVersion]; !ok {
+		identity[SystemIdentityVersion] = o.Version
+	}
 	return identity
 }
 
diff --git a/api/ocm/compdesc/id_test.go b/api/ocm/compdesc/id_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..82fced9e6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/api/ocm/compdesc/id_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+package compdesc_test
+
+import (
+	. "github.com/onsi/ginkgo/v2"
+	. "github.com/onsi/gomega"
+	"ocm.software/ocm/api/ocm/compdesc"
+	metav1 "ocm.software/ocm/api/ocm/compdesc/meta/v1"
+)
+
+var _ = Describe("Extra Identity Test Environment", func() {
+	It("handles complete defaulting", func() {
+		resources := compdesc.Resources{
+			compdesc.Resource{
+				ResourceMeta: compdesc.ResourceMeta{
+					ElementMeta: compdesc.ElementMeta{
+						Name:    "res",
+						Version: "v1",
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			compdesc.Resource{
+				ResourceMeta: compdesc.ResourceMeta{
+					ElementMeta: compdesc.ElementMeta{
+						Name:    "res",
+						Version: "v2",
+					},
+				},
+			},
+		}
+		Expect(resources[0].GetIdentity(resources)).To(Equal(metav1.NewIdentity("res", compdesc.SystemIdentityVersion, "v1")))
+		Expect(resources[1].GetIdentity(resources)).To(Equal(metav1.NewIdentity("res", compdesc.SystemIdentityVersion, "v2")))
+	})
+
+	It("handles partial defaulting", func() {
+		resources := compdesc.Resources{
+			compdesc.Resource{
+				ResourceMeta: compdesc.ResourceMeta{
+					ElementMeta: compdesc.ElementMeta{
+						Name:          "res",
+						Version:       "v1",
+						ExtraIdentity: metav1.NewExtraIdentity(compdesc.SystemIdentityVersion, "v1"),
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			compdesc.Resource{
+				ResourceMeta: compdesc.ResourceMeta{
+					ElementMeta: compdesc.ElementMeta{
+						Name:    "res",
+						Version: "v2",
+					},
+				},
+			},
+		}
+		Expect(resources[0].GetIdentity(resources)).To(Equal(metav1.NewIdentity("res", compdesc.SystemIdentityVersion, "v1")))
+		Expect(resources[1].GetIdentity(resources)).To(Equal(metav1.NewIdentity("res", compdesc.SystemIdentityVersion, "v2")))
+	})
+})
diff --git a/api/ocm/compdesc/versions/ocm.software/v3alpha1/componentdescriptor.go b/api/ocm/compdesc/versions/ocm.software/v3alpha1/componentdescriptor.go
index 8808fc3ec..e3967971b 100644
--- a/api/ocm/compdesc/versions/ocm.software/v3alpha1/componentdescriptor.go
+++ b/api/ocm/compdesc/versions/ocm.software/v3alpha1/componentdescriptor.go
@@ -129,24 +129,33 @@ func (o *ElementMeta) SetExtraIdentity(identity metav1.Identity) {
 	o.ExtraIdentity = identity
 }
 
+// GetExtraIdentity gets the extra identity of the object.
+func (o *ElementMeta) GetExtraIdentity() metav1.Identity {
+	if o.ExtraIdentity == nil {
+		return metav1.Identity{}
+	}
+	return o.ExtraIdentity.Copy()
+}
+
 // GetIdentity returns the identity of the object.
 func (o *ElementMeta) GetIdentity(accessor ElementAccessor) metav1.Identity {
-	identity := o.ExtraIdentity.Copy()
-	if identity == nil {
-		identity = metav1.Identity{}
-	}
+	identity := o.GetExtraIdentity()
 	identity[SystemIdentityName] = o.Name
-	if accessor != nil {
+	if identity.Get(SystemIdentityVersion) == "" && accessor != nil {
 		found := false
 		l := accessor.Len()
 		for i := 0; i < l; i++ {
 			m := accessor.Get(i).GetMeta()
-			if m.Name == o.Name && m.ExtraIdentity.Equals(o.ExtraIdentity) {
-				if found {
-					identity[SystemIdentityVersion] = o.Version
-					break
+			if m.GetName() == o.Name {
+				mid := m.GetExtraIdentity()
+				mid.Remove(SystemIdentityVersion)
+				if mid.Equals(o.ExtraIdentity) {
+					if found {
+						identity[SystemIdentityVersion] = o.Version
+						break
+					}
+					found = true
 				}
-				found = true
 			}
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/api/ocm/compdesc/versions/ocm.software/v3alpha1/id_test.go b/api/ocm/compdesc/versions/ocm.software/v3alpha1/id_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5b19fdfc5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/api/ocm/compdesc/versions/ocm.software/v3alpha1/id_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+package v3alpha1_test
+
+import (
+	. "github.com/onsi/ginkgo/v2"
+	. "github.com/onsi/gomega"
+
+	metav1 "ocm.software/ocm/api/ocm/compdesc/meta/v1"
+	me "ocm.software/ocm/api/ocm/compdesc/versions/ocm.software/v3alpha1"
+)
+
+var _ = Describe("Extra Identity Test Environment", func() {
+	It("handles complete defaulting", func() {
+		resources := me.Resources{
+			me.Resource{
+				ElementMeta: me.ElementMeta{
+					Name:    "res",
+					Version: "v1",
+				},
+			},
+			me.Resource{
+				ElementMeta: me.ElementMeta{
+					Name:    "res",
+					Version: "v2",
+				},
+			},
+		}
+		Expect(resources[0].GetIdentity(resources)).To(Equal(metav1.NewIdentity("res", me.SystemIdentityVersion, "v1")))
+		Expect(resources[1].GetIdentity(resources)).To(Equal(metav1.NewIdentity("res", me.SystemIdentityVersion, "v2")))
+	})
+
+	It("handles partial defaulting", func() {
+		resources := me.Resources{
+			me.Resource{
+				ElementMeta: me.ElementMeta{
+					Name:          "res",
+					Version:       "v1",
+					ExtraIdentity: metav1.NewExtraIdentity(me.SystemIdentityVersion, "v1"),
+				},
+			},
+			me.Resource{
+				ElementMeta: me.ElementMeta{
+					Name:    "res",
+					Version: "v2",
+				},
+			},
+		}
+		Expect(resources[0].GetIdentity(resources)).To(Equal(metav1.NewIdentity("res", me.SystemIdentityVersion, "v1")))
+		Expect(resources[1].GetIdentity(resources)).To(Equal(metav1.NewIdentity("res", me.SystemIdentityVersion, "v2")))
+	})
+})
diff --git a/api/ocm/compdesc/versions/ocm.software/v3alpha1/suite_test.go b/api/ocm/compdesc/versions/ocm.software/v3alpha1/suite_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..08ddd9a41
--- /dev/null
+++ b/api/ocm/compdesc/versions/ocm.software/v3alpha1/suite_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+package v3alpha1_test
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	. "github.com/onsi/ginkgo/v2"
+	. "github.com/onsi/gomega"
+)
+
+func TestConfig(t *testing.T) {
+	RegisterFailHandler(Fail)
+	RunSpecs(t, "v3alpha1 Test Suite")
+}
diff --git a/api/ocm/compdesc/versions/ocm.software/v3alpha1/validation_test.go b/api/ocm/compdesc/versions/ocm.software/v3alpha1/validation_test.go
index 223ed5d25..8a02f6cc8 100644
--- a/api/ocm/compdesc/versions/ocm.software/v3alpha1/validation_test.go
+++ b/api/ocm/compdesc/versions/ocm.software/v3alpha1/validation_test.go
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 package v3alpha1_test
 
 import (
-	"testing"
-
 	. "github.com/onsi/ginkgo/v2"
 	. "github.com/onsi/gomega"
 	. "github.com/onsi/gomega/gstruct"
@@ -17,11 +15,6 @@ import (
 	"ocm.software/ocm/api/utils/runtime"
 )
 
-func TestConfig(t *testing.T) {
-	RegisterFailHandler(Fail)
-	RunSpecs(t, "V2 Test Suite")
-}
-
 var _ = Describe("Validation", func() {
 	testutils.TestCompName(jsonscheme.ResourcesComponentDescriptorOcmV3SchemaYamlBytes())
 
diff --git a/api/ocm/compdesc/versions/v2/componentdescriptor.go b/api/ocm/compdesc/versions/v2/componentdescriptor.go
index d57f96714..c448036d3 100644
--- a/api/ocm/compdesc/versions/v2/componentdescriptor.go
+++ b/api/ocm/compdesc/versions/v2/componentdescriptor.go
@@ -174,24 +174,33 @@ func (o *ElementMeta) SetExtraIdentity(identity metav1.Identity) {
 	o.ExtraIdentity = identity
 }
 
+// GetExtraIdentity gets the extra identity of the object.
+func (o *ElementMeta) GetExtraIdentity() metav1.Identity {
+	if o.ExtraIdentity == nil {
+		return metav1.Identity{}
+	}
+	return o.ExtraIdentity.Copy()
+}
+
 // GetIdentity returns the identity of the object.
 func (o *ElementMeta) GetIdentity(accessor ElementAccessor) metav1.Identity {
-	identity := o.ExtraIdentity.Copy()
-	if identity == nil {
-		identity = metav1.Identity{}
-	}
+	identity := o.GetExtraIdentity()
 	identity[SystemIdentityName] = o.Name
-	if accessor != nil {
+	if identity.Get(SystemIdentityVersion) == "" && accessor != nil {
 		found := false
 		l := accessor.Len()
 		for i := 0; i < l; i++ {
 			m := accessor.Get(i).GetMeta()
-			if m.Name == o.Name && m.ExtraIdentity.Equals(o.ExtraIdentity) {
-				if found {
-					identity[SystemIdentityVersion] = o.Version
-					break
+			if m.GetName() == o.Name {
+				mid := m.GetExtraIdentity()
+				mid.Remove(SystemIdentityVersion)
+				if mid.Equals(o.ExtraIdentity) {
+					if found {
+						identity[SystemIdentityVersion] = o.Version
+						break
+					}
+					found = true
 				}
-				found = true
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -209,7 +218,7 @@ func (o *ElementMeta) GetRawIdentity() metav1.Identity {
 		identity = metav1.Identity{}
 	}
 	identity[SystemIdentityName] = o.Name
-	if o.Version != "" {
+	if _, ok := identity[SystemIdentityVersion]; !ok && o.Version != "" {
 		identity[SystemIdentityVersion] = o.Version
 	}
 	return identity
diff --git a/api/ocm/compdesc/versions/v2/id_test.go b/api/ocm/compdesc/versions/v2/id_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..01b2db66a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/api/ocm/compdesc/versions/v2/id_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+package v2_test
+
+import (
+	. "github.com/onsi/ginkgo/v2"
+	. "github.com/onsi/gomega"
+
+	metav1 "ocm.software/ocm/api/ocm/compdesc/meta/v1"
+	me "ocm.software/ocm/api/ocm/compdesc/versions/v2"
+)
+
+var _ = Describe("Extra Identity Test Environment", func() {
+	It("handles complete defaulting", func() {
+		resources := me.Resources{
+			me.Resource{
+				ElementMeta: me.ElementMeta{
+					Name:    "res",
+					Version: "v1",
+				},
+			},
+			me.Resource{
+				ElementMeta: me.ElementMeta{
+					Name:    "res",
+					Version: "v2",
+				},
+			},
+		}
+		Expect(resources[0].GetIdentity(resources)).To(Equal(metav1.NewIdentity("res", me.SystemIdentityVersion, "v1")))
+		Expect(resources[1].GetIdentity(resources)).To(Equal(metav1.NewIdentity("res", me.SystemIdentityVersion, "v2")))
+	})
+
+	It("handles partial defaulting", func() {
+		resources := me.Resources{
+			me.Resource{
+				ElementMeta: me.ElementMeta{
+					Name:          "res",
+					Version:       "v1",
+					ExtraIdentity: metav1.NewExtraIdentity(me.SystemIdentityVersion, "v1"),
+				},
+			},
+			me.Resource{
+				ElementMeta: me.ElementMeta{
+					Name:    "res",
+					Version: "v2",
+				},
+			},
+		}
+		Expect(resources[0].GetIdentity(resources)).To(Equal(metav1.NewIdentity("res", me.SystemIdentityVersion, "v1")))
+		Expect(resources[1].GetIdentity(resources)).To(Equal(metav1.NewIdentity("res", me.SystemIdentityVersion, "v2")))
+	})
+})
diff --git a/api/ocm/compdesc/versions/v2/suite_test.go b/api/ocm/compdesc/versions/v2/suite_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3329f170f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/api/ocm/compdesc/versions/v2/suite_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+package v2_test
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	. "github.com/onsi/ginkgo/v2"
+	. "github.com/onsi/gomega"
+)
+
+func TestConfig(t *testing.T) {
+	RegisterFailHandler(Fail)
+	RunSpecs(t, "v2 Test Suite")
+}
diff --git a/api/ocm/compdesc/versions/v2/validation_test.go b/api/ocm/compdesc/versions/v2/validation_test.go
index dd49fbe5c..0784f2aee 100644
--- a/api/ocm/compdesc/versions/v2/validation_test.go
+++ b/api/ocm/compdesc/versions/v2/validation_test.go
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
 	"strings"
-	"testing"
 
 	. "github.com/mandelsoft/goutils/testutils"
 	. "github.com/onsi/ginkgo/v2"
@@ -22,11 +21,6 @@ import (
 	"ocm.software/ocm/api/utils/runtime"
 )
 
-func TestConfig(t *testing.T) {
-	RegisterFailHandler(Fail)
-	RunSpecs(t, "V2 Test Suite")
-}
-
 var _ = Describe("Validation", func() {
 	testutils.TestCompName(jsonscheme.ResourcesComponentDescriptorV2SchemaYamlBytes())