diff --git a/reckon-core/src/main/java/org/ajoberstar/reckon/core/Reckoner.java b/reckon-core/src/main/java/org/ajoberstar/reckon/core/Reckoner.java
index e2f0bec..5ac4971 100644
--- a/reckon-core/src/main/java/org/ajoberstar/reckon/core/Reckoner.java
+++ b/reckon-core/src/main/java/org/ajoberstar/reckon/core/Reckoner.java
@@ -92,9 +92,10 @@ private Version reckonNormal(VcsInventory inventory) {
     }
 
     var targetNormal = inventory.getBaseNormal().incrementNormal(scope);
+    var probableStage = stageCalc.calculate(inventory, targetNormal);
 
     // if a version's already being developed on a parallel branch we'll skip it
-    if (inventory.getParallelNormals().contains(targetNormal)) {
+    if (inventory.getParallelNormals().contains(targetNormal) && probablStage.isPresent()) {
       if (scope.compareTo(parallelBranchScope) < 0) {
         logger.debug("Skipping {} as it's being developed on a parallel branch. While {} was requested, parallel branches claim a {}, using that instead.", scope, parallelBranchScope);
         targetNormal = targetNormal.incrementNormal(parallelBranchScope);