diff --git a/lua/dep/spec.lua b/lua/dep/spec.lua
index 674aa71..e7b1d9d 100644
--- a/lua/dep/spec.lua
+++ b/lua/dep/spec.lua
@@ -184,7 +184,10 @@ function spec:check(silent)
       return false
     end
 
-    self.reqs = spec.correct_spec(self.reqs)
+    -- turn an id into a spec
+    if (is == "string") then
+      self.reqs = { self.reqs }
+    end
   end
 
   if self.deps ~= nil then -- spec.deps
@@ -194,7 +197,10 @@ function spec:check(silent)
       return false
     end
 
-    self.deps = spec.correct_spec(self.deps)
+    -- turn an id into a spec
+    if (is == "string") then
+      self.deps = { self.deps }
+    end
   end
 
   if silent == true then