diff --git a/rust/lancedb/src/table/dataset.rs b/rust/lancedb/src/table/dataset.rs
index ea173429..50f6b647 100644
--- a/rust/lancedb/src/table/dataset.rs
+++ b/rust/lancedb/src/table/dataset.rs
@@ -100,7 +100,8 @@ impl DatasetRef {
                 let should_checkout = match &target_ref {
                     refs::Ref::Version(_, Some(target_ver)) => version != target_ver,
                     refs::Ref::Version(_, None) => true, // No specific version, always checkout
-                    refs::Ref::Tag(_) => true,           // Always checkout for tags
+                    refs::Ref::VersionNumber(target_ver) => version != target_ver,
+                    refs::Ref::Tag(_) => true, // Always checkout for tags
                 };
 
                 if should_checkout {