diff --git a/lib/galaxy/tools/lazy_toolbox.py b/lib/galaxy/tools/lazy_toolbox.py
index 9e5b073c8d8..276c7ca788d 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/tools/lazy_toolbox.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy/tools/lazy_toolbox.py
@@ -1106,8 +1106,13 @@ class LazyToolBox(ToolBox):
             candidates: list[tuple[tuple[int, Any], Tool]] = []
             for guid in sorted(self._shed_short_id_to_guids[tool_id]):
                 loaded = self._load_tool_on_demand(guid, tool_version)
-                if loaded is None and tool_version:
-                    # Unknown version on this guid — try its default.
+                if loaded is None and tool_version and not exact:
+                    # Unknown version on this guid — try its default. Honor
+                    # ``exact``: like the guid path above and eager
+                    # ``AbstractToolBox.get_tool`` (``elif exact: continue``),
+                    # a specific-version request must not substitute another
+                    # version, so skip this candidate when exact and the
+                    # requested version isn't available.
                     default_entry = self._tool_index.entries.get(guid)
                     if default_entry is not None:
                         loaded = self._load_tool_on_demand(guid, default_entry.version or None)
diff --git a/test/unit/app/tools/test_lazy_tool.py b/test/unit/app/tools/test_lazy_tool.py
index e6114d7fba2..6ba39c0fb39 100644
--- a/test/unit/app/tools/test_lazy_tool.py
+++ b/test/unit/app/tools/test_lazy_tool.py
@@ -638,3 +638,20 @@ def test_guid_sibling_versions_reset_on_in_place_removal():
     assert set(box._index_versions_for(f"{prefix}/0.20.1")) == {"0.20.1", "0.23.2"}
     box._remove_tool_in_memory(f"{prefix}/0.23.2")
     assert box._index_versions_for(f"{prefix}/0.20.1") == ["0.20.1"]
+
+
+def test_get_tool_short_id_missing_version_honors_exact():
+    box = _registry_box()
+    guid = "toolshed.example.com/repos/owner/repo/cat/1.0"
+    box._tool_index.add_entry(_entry(id=guid, version="1.0"))
+    box._shed_short_id_to_guids = {"cat": {guid}}
+    default_tool = _stub(_entry(id=guid, version="1.0"))
+
+    def load(tool_id, tool_version=None):
+        if tool_id == guid and tool_version in (None, "1.0"):
+            return default_tool
+        return None
+
+    box._load_tool_on_demand = load
+    assert box.get_tool("cat", tool_version="9.9", exact=True) is None
+    assert box.get_tool("cat", tool_version="9.9", exact=False) is default_tool