diff --git a/src/cargo/util/toml_mut/upgrade.rs b/src/cargo/util/toml_mut/upgrade.rs
index 698fcab654c1..5757350bef6b 100644
--- a/src/cargo/util/toml_mut/upgrade.rs
+++ b/src/cargo/util/toml_mut/upgrade.rs
@@ -20,7 +20,10 @@ pub(crate) fn upgrade_requirement(
             .into_iter()
             .map(|p| set_comparator(p, version))
             .collect();
-        let comparators = comparators?;
+        let comparators: Vec<_> = comparators?.into_iter().flatten().collect();
+        if comparators.is_empty() {
+            return Ok(None);
+        }
         let new_req = semver::VersionReq { comparators };
         let mut new_req_text = new_req.to_string();
         if new_req_text.starts_with('^') && !req.starts_with('^') {
@@ -48,7 +51,7 @@ pub(crate) fn upgrade_requirement(
 fn set_comparator(
     mut pred: semver::Comparator,
     version: &semver::Version,
-) -> CargoResult<semver::Comparator> {
+) -> CargoResult<Option<semver::Comparator>> {
     match pred.op {
         semver::Op::Wildcard => {
             pred.major = version.major;
@@ -58,7 +61,7 @@ fn set_comparator(
             if pred.patch.is_some() {
                 pred.patch = Some(version.patch);
             }
-            Ok(pred)
+            Ok(Some(pred))
         }
         semver::Op::Exact => Ok(assign_partial_req(version, pred)),
         semver::Op::Greater | semver::Op::GreaterEq | semver::Op::Less | semver::Op::LessEq => {
@@ -77,7 +80,10 @@ fn set_comparator(
 fn assign_partial_req(
     version: &semver::Version,
     mut pred: semver::Comparator,
-) -> semver::Comparator {
+) -> Option<semver::Comparator> {
+    if !pred.pre.is_empty() {
+        return None;
+    }
     pred.major = version.major;
     if pred.minor.is_some() {
         pred.minor = Some(version.minor);
@@ -86,7 +92,7 @@ fn assign_partial_req(
         pred.patch = Some(version.patch);
     }
     pred.pre = version.pre.clone();
-    pred
+    Some(pred)
 }
 
 fn unsupported_version_req(req: impl Display) -> anyhow::Error {
@@ -220,7 +226,7 @@ mod test {
 
         #[test]
         fn caret_prerelease() {
-            assert_req_bump("1.7.0", "2.0.0-beta.21", "1.7.0");
+            assert_req_bump("1.7.0", "2.0.0-beta.21", None);
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/tests/testsuite/update.rs b/tests/testsuite/update.rs
index 4d02ba6fb876..e99ea18af8a5 100644
--- a/tests/testsuite/update.rs
+++ b/tests/testsuite/update.rs
@@ -2646,9 +2646,6 @@ fn update_breaking_pre_release() {
         .masquerade_as_nightly_cargo(&["update-breaking"])
         .with_stderr_data(str![[r#"
 [UPDATING] `dummy-registry` index
-[UPGRADING] bar ^2.0.0-beta.21 -> ^1.7.0
-[LOCKING] 1 package to latest compatible version
-[DOWNGRADING] bar v2.0.0-beta.21 -> v1.7.0
 
 "#]])
         .run();