diff --git a/app-admin/hardinfo2/hardinfo2-2.2.13.ebuild b/app-admin/hardinfo2/hardinfo2-2.2.13.ebuild
index 17a9db40e3..faa5436273 100644
--- a/app-admin/hardinfo2/hardinfo2-2.2.13.ebuild
+++ b/app-admin/hardinfo2/hardinfo2-2.2.13.ebuild
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ REQUIRED_USE="wayland? ( vulkan ) X? ( vulkan )"
 DEPEND="
 	x11-libs/gtk+:3[wayland?]
 	>=dev-libs/glib-2.24
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	dev-libs/json-glib
 	net-libs/libsoup:3.0
 	x11-libs/cairo
diff --git a/app-admin/ripasso/ripasso-0.7.0.ebuild b/app-admin/ripasso/ripasso-0.7.0.ebuild
index 13525dd437..4e1a18636a 100644
--- a/app-admin/ripasso/ripasso-0.7.0.ebuild
+++ b/app-admin/ripasso/ripasso-0.7.0.ebuild
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ DEPEND="
 	dev-libs/libgpg-error
 	dev-libs/nettle
 	dev-libs/openssl:0=
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	gtk? ( gui-libs/gtk )
 "
 RDEPEND="${DEPEND}"
diff --git a/app-arch/libarchive-qt/libarchive-qt-2.0.8-r1.ebuild b/app-arch/libarchive-qt/libarchive-qt-2.0.8-r1.ebuild
index 69ad0dde43..d6615e8383 100644
--- a/app-arch/libarchive-qt/libarchive-qt-2.0.8-r1.ebuild
+++ b/app-arch/libarchive-qt/libarchive-qt-2.0.8-r1.ebuild
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ DEPEND="
 	app-arch/libarchive:=
 	app-arch/xz-utils
 	dev-qt/qtbase:6
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 "
 RDEPEND="${DEPEND}"
 
diff --git a/app-arch/ouch/ouch-0.6.1.ebuild b/app-arch/ouch/ouch-0.6.1.ebuild
index 2607e43474..b51df8a323 100644
--- a/app-arch/ouch/ouch-0.6.1.ebuild
+++ b/app-arch/ouch/ouch-0.6.1.ebuild
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ DEPEND="
 	app-arch/bzip2
 	app-arch/bzip3
 	app-arch/xz-utils
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 "
 RDEPEND="${DEPEND}"
 BDEPEND="
diff --git a/app-arch/unalz/unalz-0.65-r1.ebuild b/app-arch/unalz/unalz-0.65-r1.ebuild
index 7648b30ffb..165f4ef139 100644
--- a/app-arch/unalz/unalz-0.65-r1.ebuild
+++ b/app-arch/unalz/unalz-0.65-r1.ebuild
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ KEYWORDS="~amd64 ~x86"
 
 DEPEND="
 	app-arch/bzip2
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	virtual/libiconv
 "
 RDEPEND="${DEPEND}"
diff --git a/app-arch/unalz/unalz-0.65-r2.ebuild b/app-arch/unalz/unalz-0.65-r2.ebuild
index 6af50befc2..6aa733a223 100644
--- a/app-arch/unalz/unalz-0.65-r2.ebuild
+++ b/app-arch/unalz/unalz-0.65-r2.ebuild
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ KEYWORDS="~amd64 ~x86"
 
 DEPEND="
 	app-arch/bzip2
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	virtual/libiconv
 "
 RDEPEND="${DEPEND}"
diff --git a/app-editors/imhex/imhex-1.37.4-r4.ebuild b/app-editors/imhex/imhex-1.37.4-r4.ebuild
index 4c6ab0f8b0..084f1adcf8 100644
--- a/app-editors/imhex/imhex-1.37.4-r4.ebuild
+++ b/app-editors/imhex/imhex-1.37.4-r4.ebuild
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ DEPEND="
 	net-libs/mbedtls:=
 	net-misc/curl
 	sys-apps/file
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	virtual/libiconv
 	virtual/libintl
 "
diff --git a/app-editors/lapce/lapce-0.4.2-r1.ebuild b/app-editors/lapce/lapce-0.4.2-r1.ebuild
index b9f9b75c86..a50a8f59d3 100644
--- a/app-editors/lapce/lapce-0.4.2-r1.ebuild
+++ b/app-editors/lapce/lapce-0.4.2-r1.ebuild
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ KEYWORDS="~amd64"
 DEPEND="
 	x11-libs/gtk+:3
 	media-libs/fontconfig
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	x11-libs/libxcb:=
 	dev-libs/libgit2:=
 "
diff --git a/app-editors/neovide/neovide-0.12.2.ebuild b/app-editors/neovide/neovide-0.12.2.ebuild
index 68357ae96f..b2bef26d4f 100644
--- a/app-editors/neovide/neovide-0.12.2.ebuild
+++ b/app-editors/neovide/neovide-0.12.2.ebuild
@@ -445,7 +445,7 @@ RDEPEND="
 	media-libs/harfbuzz:=
 	media-libs/libjpeg-turbo:=
 	media-libs/libpng:=
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 "
 DEPEND="${RDEPEND}"
 BDEPEND="
diff --git a/app-metrics/scaphandre/scaphandre-0.5.0-r1.ebuild b/app-metrics/scaphandre/scaphandre-0.5.0-r1.ebuild
index 735609ae5c..3d58d9fd19 100644
--- a/app-metrics/scaphandre/scaphandre-0.5.0-r1.ebuild
+++ b/app-metrics/scaphandre/scaphandre-0.5.0-r1.ebuild
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ RESTRICT="test"
 
 DEPEND="
 	dev-libs/openssl:=
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 "
 RDEPEND="${DEPEND}"
 
diff --git a/app-misc/afc/afc-1.1.ebuild b/app-misc/afc/afc-1.1.ebuild
index 690332b242..84321bebb0 100644
--- a/app-misc/afc/afc-1.1.ebuild
+++ b/app-misc/afc/afc-1.1.ebuild
@@ -19,5 +19,5 @@ fi
 LICENSE="GPL-3+"
 SLOT="0"
 
-DEPEND="virtual/zlib"
+DEPEND="virtual/zlib:="
 RDEPEND="${DEPEND}"
diff --git a/app-misc/afc/afc-1.2.ebuild b/app-misc/afc/afc-1.2.ebuild
index 690332b242..84321bebb0 100644
--- a/app-misc/afc/afc-1.2.ebuild
+++ b/app-misc/afc/afc-1.2.ebuild
@@ -19,5 +19,5 @@ fi
 LICENSE="GPL-3+"
 SLOT="0"
 
-DEPEND="virtual/zlib"
+DEPEND="virtual/zlib:="
 RDEPEND="${DEPEND}"
diff --git a/app-misc/afc/afc-9999.ebuild b/app-misc/afc/afc-9999.ebuild
index 690332b242..84321bebb0 100644
--- a/app-misc/afc/afc-9999.ebuild
+++ b/app-misc/afc/afc-9999.ebuild
@@ -19,5 +19,5 @@ fi
 LICENSE="GPL-3+"
 SLOT="0"
 
-DEPEND="virtual/zlib"
+DEPEND="virtual/zlib:="
 RDEPEND="${DEPEND}"
diff --git a/app-misc/electricsheep/electricsheep-3.0.4_p20240213.ebuild b/app-misc/electricsheep/electricsheep-3.0.4_p20240213.ebuild
index 3c9ecf37ff..4e6a1aec82 100644
--- a/app-misc/electricsheep/electricsheep-3.0.4_p20240213.ebuild
+++ b/app-misc/electricsheep/electricsheep-3.0.4_p20240213.ebuild
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ DEPEND="dev-lang/lua:5.1
 	media-libs/libpng:*
 	media-video/ffmpeg:0
 	net-misc/curl
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	x11-libs/libX11
 	x11-libs/libXrender
 	x11-libs/wxGTK:${WX_GTK_VER}
diff --git a/app-misc/qman/qman-1.4.2.ebuild b/app-misc/qman/qman-1.4.2.ebuild
index 03483dddc4..09e13f545b 100644
--- a/app-misc/qman/qman-1.4.2.ebuild
+++ b/app-misc/qman/qman-1.4.2.ebuild
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ RESTRICT="!test? ( test )"
 DEPEND="
 	sys-libs/ncurses:=
 	dev-libs/inih
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 "
 BDEPEND="
 	dev-python/cogapp
diff --git a/app-misc/qman/qman-1.5.0.ebuild b/app-misc/qman/qman-1.5.0.ebuild
index 03483dddc4..09e13f545b 100644
--- a/app-misc/qman/qman-1.5.0.ebuild
+++ b/app-misc/qman/qman-1.5.0.ebuild
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ RESTRICT="!test? ( test )"
 DEPEND="
 	sys-libs/ncurses:=
 	dev-libs/inih
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 "
 BDEPEND="
 	dev-python/cogapp
diff --git a/app-misc/qman/qman-9999.ebuild b/app-misc/qman/qman-9999.ebuild
index 2cc902e757..d200a7966e 100644
--- a/app-misc/qman/qman-9999.ebuild
+++ b/app-misc/qman/qman-9999.ebuild
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ RESTRICT="!test? ( test )"
 DEPEND="
 	sys-libs/ncurses:=
 	dev-libs/inih
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 "
 BDEPEND="
 	dev-python/cogapp
diff --git a/dev-cpp/cpprestsdk/cpprestsdk-2.10.19-r5.ebuild b/dev-cpp/cpprestsdk/cpprestsdk-2.10.19-r5.ebuild
index 4f8b5e0d2f..ccf340fbd2 100644
--- a/dev-cpp/cpprestsdk/cpprestsdk-2.10.19-r5.ebuild
+++ b/dev-cpp/cpprestsdk/cpprestsdk-2.10.19-r5.ebuild
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ KEYWORDS="~amd64 ~x86"
 
 RDEPEND=">=dev-libs/openssl-1.1.1q
 		>=dev-libs/boost-1.80.0-r1
-		>=virtual/zlib-1.2.13-r1"
+		>=virtual/zlib-1.2.13-r1:="
 
 DEPEND="${RDEPEND}"
 
diff --git a/dev-cpp/cpprestsdk/cpprestsdk-2.10.19-r6.ebuild b/dev-cpp/cpprestsdk/cpprestsdk-2.10.19-r6.ebuild
index 0900a11d45..46e0509a74 100644
--- a/dev-cpp/cpprestsdk/cpprestsdk-2.10.19-r6.ebuild
+++ b/dev-cpp/cpprestsdk/cpprestsdk-2.10.19-r6.ebuild
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ KEYWORDS="~amd64 ~x86"
 
 RDEPEND=">=dev-libs/openssl-1.1.1q
 		>=dev-libs/boost-1.80.0-r1:=
-		>=virtual/zlib-1.2.13-r1"
+		>=virtual/zlib-1.2.13-r1:="
 
 DEPEND="${RDEPEND}"
 
diff --git a/dev-cpp/drogon/drogon-1.9.5.ebuild b/dev-cpp/drogon/drogon-1.9.5.ebuild
index 89c8641ad2..9e2be717c1 100644
--- a/dev-cpp/drogon/drogon-1.9.5.ebuild
+++ b/dev-cpp/drogon/drogon-1.9.5.ebuild
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ RESTRICT="!test? ( test )"
 RDEPEND="
 	>=dev-cpp/trantor-${MY_TRANTOR_V}:=
 	dev-libs/jsoncpp:=
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	brotli? ( app-arch/brotli:= )
 	mariadb? ( dev-db/mariadb:= )
 	postgres? ( dev-db/postgresql:= )
diff --git a/dev-cpp/drogon/drogon-1.9.6.ebuild b/dev-cpp/drogon/drogon-1.9.6.ebuild
index 4d3cb61b32..789552b0da 100644
--- a/dev-cpp/drogon/drogon-1.9.6.ebuild
+++ b/dev-cpp/drogon/drogon-1.9.6.ebuild
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ RESTRICT="!test? ( test )"
 RDEPEND="
 	>=dev-cpp/trantor-${MY_TRANTOR_V}:=
 	dev-libs/jsoncpp:=
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	brotli? ( app-arch/brotli:= )
 	mariadb? ( dev-db/mariadb:= )
 	postgres? ( dev-db/postgresql:= )
diff --git a/dev-cpp/wt/wt-4.11.4-r3.ebuild b/dev-cpp/wt/wt-4.11.4-r3.ebuild
index 6ad3c61ba5..aee94e2e11 100644
--- a/dev-cpp/wt/wt-4.11.4-r3.ebuild
+++ b/dev-cpp/wt/wt-4.11.4-r3.ebuild
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ RESTRICT="test"
 
 DEPEND="
 	dev-libs/boost:=
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	graphicsmagick? ( media-gfx/graphicsmagick:=[jpeg,png] )
 	mysql? (
 		virtual/mysql
diff --git a/dev-cpp/wt/wt-4.12.0.ebuild b/dev-cpp/wt/wt-4.12.0.ebuild
index 6ad3c61ba5..aee94e2e11 100644
--- a/dev-cpp/wt/wt-4.12.0.ebuild
+++ b/dev-cpp/wt/wt-4.12.0.ebuild
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ RESTRICT="test"
 
 DEPEND="
 	dev-libs/boost:=
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	graphicsmagick? ( media-gfx/graphicsmagick:=[jpeg,png] )
 	mysql? (
 		virtual/mysql
diff --git a/dev-cpp/wt/wt-4.12.1.ebuild b/dev-cpp/wt/wt-4.12.1.ebuild
index 6ad3c61ba5..aee94e2e11 100644
--- a/dev-cpp/wt/wt-4.12.1.ebuild
+++ b/dev-cpp/wt/wt-4.12.1.ebuild
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ RESTRICT="test"
 
 DEPEND="
 	dev-libs/boost:=
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	graphicsmagick? ( media-gfx/graphicsmagick:=[jpeg,png] )
 	mysql? (
 		virtual/mysql
diff --git a/dev-embedded/esp-idf/esp-idf-5.3.4.ebuild b/dev-embedded/esp-idf/esp-idf-5.3.4.ebuild
index b203942579..2c030dadee 100644
--- a/dev-embedded/esp-idf/esp-idf-5.3.4.ebuild
+++ b/dev-embedded/esp-idf/esp-idf-5.3.4.ebuild
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ RDEPEND="
 	dev-embedded/esp-idf-size[${PYTHON_USEDEP}]
 	dev-embedded/freertos-gdb[${PYTHON_USEDEP}]
 	dev-embedded/idf-component-manager[${PYTHON_USEDEP}]
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 "
 
 RESTRICT="strip"
diff --git a/dev-embedded/esp-idf/esp-idf-5.4.2-r1.ebuild b/dev-embedded/esp-idf/esp-idf-5.4.2-r1.ebuild
index 6557adbace..564b3a846e 100644
--- a/dev-embedded/esp-idf/esp-idf-5.4.2-r1.ebuild
+++ b/dev-embedded/esp-idf/esp-idf-5.4.2-r1.ebuild
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ RDEPEND="
 	dev-embedded/esp-idf-size[${PYTHON_USEDEP}]
 	dev-embedded/freertos-gdb[${PYTHON_USEDEP}]
 	dev-embedded/idf-component-manager[${PYTHON_USEDEP}]
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 "
 
 RESTRICT="strip"
diff --git a/dev-embedded/esp-idf/esp-idf-5.5.1.ebuild b/dev-embedded/esp-idf/esp-idf-5.5.1.ebuild
index 5337e19667..121204deec 100644
--- a/dev-embedded/esp-idf/esp-idf-5.5.1.ebuild
+++ b/dev-embedded/esp-idf/esp-idf-5.5.1.ebuild
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ RDEPEND="
 	dev-embedded/esp-idf-size[${PYTHON_USEDEP}]
 	dev-embedded/freertos-gdb[${PYTHON_USEDEP}]
 	dev-embedded/idf-component-manager[${PYTHON_USEDEP}]
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 "
 
 RESTRICT="strip"
diff --git a/dev-embedded/esp-idf/esp-idf-5.5.ebuild b/dev-embedded/esp-idf/esp-idf-5.5.ebuild
index 5690c1a840..f59b8ecfbe 100644
--- a/dev-embedded/esp-idf/esp-idf-5.5.ebuild
+++ b/dev-embedded/esp-idf/esp-idf-5.5.ebuild
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ RDEPEND="
 	dev-embedded/esp-idf-size[${PYTHON_USEDEP}]
 	dev-embedded/freertos-gdb[${PYTHON_USEDEP}]
 	dev-embedded/idf-component-manager[${PYTHON_USEDEP}]
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 "
 
 RESTRICT="strip"
diff --git a/dev-lang/c3c/c3c-0.7.5.ebuild b/dev-lang/c3c/c3c-0.7.5.ebuild
index 77c66b1952..2be88fd2c5 100644
--- a/dev-lang/c3c/c3c-0.7.5.ebuild
+++ b/dev-lang/c3c/c3c-0.7.5.ebuild
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ DEPEND="
 	>=llvm-core/clang-17:=
 	>=llvm-core/lld-17:=
 	dev-libs/libffi
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	net-misc/curl
 "
 RDEPEND="${DEPEND}"
diff --git a/dev-lang/opencilk/opencilk-1.1.ebuild b/dev-lang/opencilk/opencilk-1.1.ebuild
index fc869207c5..22f1e150f4 100644
--- a/dev-lang/opencilk/opencilk-1.1.ebuild
+++ b/dev-lang/opencilk/opencilk-1.1.ebuild
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ CMAKE_USE_DIR="${S}/llvm"
 RDEPEND="
 	dev-libs/libxml2
 	sys-libs/ncurses:=
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 "
 
 PATCHES=(
diff --git a/dev-lang/opencilk/opencilk-2.1.ebuild b/dev-lang/opencilk/opencilk-2.1.ebuild
index e4621b3f25..320a58e9b4 100644
--- a/dev-lang/opencilk/opencilk-2.1.ebuild
+++ b/dev-lang/opencilk/opencilk-2.1.ebuild
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ CMAKE_USE_DIR="${S}/llvm"
 RDEPEND="
 	dev-libs/libxml2
 	sys-libs/ncurses:=
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 "
 
 src_prepare() {
diff --git a/dev-lang/swift/swift-5.10.1-r1.ebuild b/dev-lang/swift/swift-5.10.1-r1.ebuild
index 21b245aec9..18fece1084 100644
--- a/dev-lang/swift/swift-5.10.1-r1.ebuild
+++ b/dev-lang/swift/swift-5.10.1-r1.ebuild
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ RDEPEND="
 	>=dev-libs/libxml2-2.11.5
 	>=net-misc/curl-8.4
 	>=sys-libs/ncurses-6
-	>=virtual/zlib-1.3
+	>=virtual/zlib-1.3:=
 	dev-lang/python
 	$(llvm_gen_dep 'llvm-core/lld:${LLVM_SLOT}=')
 "
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ BDEPEND="
 	>=dev-vcs/git-2.39
 	>=sys-apps/coreutils-9
 	>=sys-libs/ncurses-6
-	>=virtual/zlib-1.3
+	>=virtual/zlib-1.3:=
 	$(llvm_gen_dep '
 		llvm-core/clang:${LLVM_SLOT}=
 		llvm-core/lld:${LLVM_SLOT}=
diff --git a/dev-lang/swift/swift-5.10.1-r2.ebuild b/dev-lang/swift/swift-5.10.1-r2.ebuild
index 6b1d72698f..2312190ff9 100644
--- a/dev-lang/swift/swift-5.10.1-r2.ebuild
+++ b/dev-lang/swift/swift-5.10.1-r2.ebuild
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ RDEPEND="
 	>=dev-libs/libxml2-2.11.5
 	>=net-misc/curl-8.4
 	>=sys-libs/ncurses-6
-	>=virtual/zlib-1.3
+	>=virtual/zlib-1.3:=
 	dev-lang/python
 	$(llvm_gen_dep 'llvm-core/lld:${LLVM_SLOT}=')
 "
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ BDEPEND="
 	>=dev-vcs/git-2.39
 	>=sys-apps/coreutils-9
 	>=sys-libs/ncurses-6
-	>=virtual/zlib-1.3
+	>=virtual/zlib-1.3:=
 	$(llvm_gen_dep '
 		llvm-core/clang:${LLVM_SLOT}=
 		llvm-core/lld:${LLVM_SLOT}=
diff --git a/dev-lang/swift/swift-5.10.1-r3.ebuild b/dev-lang/swift/swift-5.10.1-r3.ebuild
index 6e2c08d851..19c7d1cbc8 100644
--- a/dev-lang/swift/swift-5.10.1-r3.ebuild
+++ b/dev-lang/swift/swift-5.10.1-r3.ebuild
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ RDEPEND="
 	>=dev-libs/libxml2-2.11.5
 	>=net-misc/curl-8.4
 	>=sys-libs/ncurses-6
-	>=virtual/zlib-1.3
+	>=virtual/zlib-1.3:=
 	dev-lang/python
 	$(llvm_gen_dep 'llvm-core/lld:${LLVM_SLOT}=')
 "
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ BDEPEND="
 	>=sys-apps/coreutils-9
 	>=sys-devel/gcc-11
 	>=sys-libs/ncurses-6
-	>=virtual/zlib-1.3
+	>=virtual/zlib-1.3:=
 	$(llvm_gen_dep '
 		llvm-core/clang:${LLVM_SLOT}=
 		llvm-core/lld:${LLVM_SLOT}=
diff --git a/dev-lang/swift/swift-5.10.1-r4.ebuild b/dev-lang/swift/swift-5.10.1-r4.ebuild
index d0da4c04ce..ff41fd7a05 100644
--- a/dev-lang/swift/swift-5.10.1-r4.ebuild
+++ b/dev-lang/swift/swift-5.10.1-r4.ebuild
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ RDEPEND="
 	>=dev-libs/libxml2-2.11.5
 	>=net-misc/curl-8.4
 	>=sys-libs/ncurses-6
-	>=virtual/zlib-1.3
+	>=virtual/zlib-1.3:=
 	dev-lang/python
 	$(llvm_gen_dep 'llvm-core/lld:${LLVM_SLOT}=')
 "
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ BDEPEND="
 	>=sys-apps/coreutils-9
 	>=sys-devel/gcc-11
 	>=sys-libs/ncurses-6
-	>=virtual/zlib-1.3
+	>=virtual/zlib-1.3:=
 	$(llvm_gen_dep '
 		llvm-core/clang:${LLVM_SLOT}=
 		llvm-core/lld:${LLVM_SLOT}=
diff --git a/dev-lang/swift/swift-5.10.1-r5.ebuild b/dev-lang/swift/swift-5.10.1-r5.ebuild
index 5c3ca5aa2d..99d565d07d 100644
--- a/dev-lang/swift/swift-5.10.1-r5.ebuild
+++ b/dev-lang/swift/swift-5.10.1-r5.ebuild
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ RDEPEND="
 	>=dev-libs/libxml2-2.11.5
 	>=net-misc/curl-8.4
 	>=sys-libs/ncurses-6
-	>=virtual/zlib-1.3
+	>=virtual/zlib-1.3:=
 	dev-lang/python
 	$(llvm_gen_dep 'llvm-core/lld:${LLVM_SLOT}=')
 "
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ BDEPEND="
 	>=sys-apps/coreutils-9
 	>=sys-devel/gcc-11
 	>=sys-libs/ncurses-6
-	>=virtual/zlib-1.3
+	>=virtual/zlib-1.3:=
 	$(llvm_gen_dep '
 		llvm-core/clang:${LLVM_SLOT}=
 		llvm-core/lld:${LLVM_SLOT}=
diff --git a/dev-lang/swift/swift-5.10.1.ebuild b/dev-lang/swift/swift-5.10.1.ebuild
index edaef4772c..6a054fe661 100644
--- a/dev-lang/swift/swift-5.10.1.ebuild
+++ b/dev-lang/swift/swift-5.10.1.ebuild
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ RDEPEND="
 	>=net-misc/curl-8.4
 	>=llvm-core/lld-15
 	>=sys-libs/ncurses-6
-	>=virtual/zlib-1.3
+	>=virtual/zlib-1.3:=
 	dev-lang/python
 "
 
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ BDEPEND="
 	>=llvm-core/clang-15
 	>=llvm-core/lld-15
 	>=sys-libs/ncurses-6
-	>=virtual/zlib-1.3
+	>=virtual/zlib-1.3:=
 	dev-lang/python
 	$(python_gen_cond_dep '
 		dev-python/setuptools[${PYTHON_USEDEP}]
diff --git a/dev-lang/swift/swift-6.0.3-r1.ebuild b/dev-lang/swift/swift-6.0.3-r1.ebuild
index cb9089b423..5c93d2e3eb 100644
--- a/dev-lang/swift/swift-6.0.3-r1.ebuild
+++ b/dev-lang/swift/swift-6.0.3-r1.ebuild
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ RDEPEND="
 	>=dev-libs/libxml2-2.11.5
 	>=net-misc/curl-8.4
 	>=sys-libs/ncurses-6
-	>=virtual/zlib-1.3
+	>=virtual/zlib-1.3:=
 	dev-lang/python
 	$(llvm_gen_dep 'llvm-core/lld:${LLVM_SLOT}=')
 "
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ BDEPEND="
 	>=sys-apps/coreutils-9
 	>=sys-devel/gcc-11
 	>=sys-libs/ncurses-6
-	>=virtual/zlib-1.3
+	>=virtual/zlib-1.3:=
 	|| (
 		dev-lang/swift
 		dev-lang/swift-bootstrap
diff --git a/dev-lang/swift/swift-6.0.3-r2.ebuild b/dev-lang/swift/swift-6.0.3-r2.ebuild
index b7b2d0540b..56fa038683 100644
--- a/dev-lang/swift/swift-6.0.3-r2.ebuild
+++ b/dev-lang/swift/swift-6.0.3-r2.ebuild
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ RDEPEND="
 	>=dev-libs/libxml2-2.11.5
 	>=net-misc/curl-8.4
 	>=sys-libs/ncurses-6
-	>=virtual/zlib-1.3
+	>=virtual/zlib-1.3:=
 	dev-lang/python
 	$(llvm_gen_dep 'llvm-core/lld:${LLVM_SLOT}=')
 "
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ BDEPEND="
 	>=sys-apps/coreutils-9
 	>=sys-devel/gcc-11
 	>=sys-libs/ncurses-6
-	>=virtual/zlib-1.3
+	>=virtual/zlib-1.3:=
 	|| (
 		dev-lang/swift
 		dev-lang/swift-bootstrap
diff --git a/dev-lang/swift/swift-6.0.3.ebuild b/dev-lang/swift/swift-6.0.3.ebuild
index 818a7111a2..1ec8179615 100644
--- a/dev-lang/swift/swift-6.0.3.ebuild
+++ b/dev-lang/swift/swift-6.0.3.ebuild
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ RDEPEND="
 	>=dev-libs/libxml2-2.11.5
 	>=net-misc/curl-8.4
 	>=sys-libs/ncurses-6
-	>=virtual/zlib-1.3
+	>=virtual/zlib-1.3:=
 	app-eselect/eselect-swift
 	dev-lang/python
 	$(llvm_gen_dep 'llvm-core/lld:${LLVM_SLOT}=')
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ BDEPEND="
 	>=sys-apps/coreutils-9
 	>=sys-devel/gcc-11
 	>=sys-libs/ncurses-6
-	>=virtual/zlib-1.3
+	>=virtual/zlib-1.3:=
 	|| (
 		dev-lang/swift
 		dev-lang/swift-bootstrap
diff --git a/dev-lang/swift/swift-6.1.3.ebuild b/dev-lang/swift/swift-6.1.3.ebuild
index af965a850a..d7f959ca10 100644
--- a/dev-lang/swift/swift-6.1.3.ebuild
+++ b/dev-lang/swift/swift-6.1.3.ebuild
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ RDEPEND="
 	>=dev-libs/libxml2-2.11.5
 	>=net-misc/curl-8.9.1
 	>=sys-libs/ncurses-6
-	>=virtual/zlib-1.3.1
+	>=virtual/zlib-1.3.1:=
 	dev-lang/python
 	$(llvm_gen_dep 'llvm-core/lld:${LLVM_SLOT}=')
 "
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ BDEPEND="
 	>=sys-apps/coreutils-9
 	>=sys-devel/gcc-11
 	>=sys-libs/ncurses-6
-	>=virtual/zlib-1.3.1
+	>=virtual/zlib-1.3.1:=
 	|| (
 		dev-lang/swift
 		dev-lang/swift-bootstrap
diff --git a/dev-lang/swift/swift-6.2.1.ebuild b/dev-lang/swift/swift-6.2.1.ebuild
index b0f24fabbc..e1a10aee41 100644
--- a/dev-lang/swift/swift-6.2.1.ebuild
+++ b/dev-lang/swift/swift-6.2.1.ebuild
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ RDEPEND="
 	>=dev-libs/libxml2-2.11.5
 	>=net-misc/curl-8.9.1
 	>=sys-libs/ncurses-6
-	>=virtual/zlib-1.3.1
+	>=virtual/zlib-1.3.1:=
 	dev-lang/python
 	$(llvm_gen_dep 'llvm-core/lld:${LLVM_SLOT}=')
 "
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ BDEPEND="
 	>=sys-apps/coreutils-9
 	>=sys-devel/gcc-11
 	>=sys-libs/ncurses-6
-	>=virtual/zlib-1.3.1
+	>=virtual/zlib-1.3.1:=
 	|| (
 		dev-lang/swift
 		dev-lang/swift-bootstrap
diff --git a/dev-lang/swift/swift-6.2.ebuild b/dev-lang/swift/swift-6.2.ebuild
index 2f61d1a68b..bff71fb44b 100644
--- a/dev-lang/swift/swift-6.2.ebuild
+++ b/dev-lang/swift/swift-6.2.ebuild
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ RDEPEND="
 	>=dev-libs/libxml2-2.11.5
 	>=net-misc/curl-8.9.1
 	>=sys-libs/ncurses-6
-	>=virtual/zlib-1.3.1
+	>=virtual/zlib-1.3.1:=
 	dev-lang/python
 	$(llvm_gen_dep 'llvm-core/lld:${LLVM_SLOT}=')
 "
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ BDEPEND="
 	>=sys-apps/coreutils-9
 	>=sys-devel/gcc-11
 	>=sys-libs/ncurses-6
-	>=virtual/zlib-1.3.1
+	>=virtual/zlib-1.3.1:=
 	|| (
 		dev-lang/swift
 		dev-lang/swift-bootstrap
diff --git a/dev-libs/libsolv/libsolv-0.7.34.ebuild b/dev-libs/libsolv/libsolv-0.7.34.ebuild
index cdb36749d0..3544ee965d 100644
--- a/dev-libs/libsolv/libsolv-0.7.34.ebuild
+++ b/dev-libs/libsolv/libsolv-0.7.34.ebuild
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ RDEPEND="
 	app-arch/rpm
 	app-arch/xz-utils
 	app-arch/zstd:=
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	expat? ( dev-libs/expat )
 	!expat? ( dev-libs/libxml2 )
 	zchunk? ( app-arch/zchunk )
diff --git a/dev-libs/libsolv/libsolv-0.7.35.ebuild b/dev-libs/libsolv/libsolv-0.7.35.ebuild
index cdb36749d0..3544ee965d 100644
--- a/dev-libs/libsolv/libsolv-0.7.35.ebuild
+++ b/dev-libs/libsolv/libsolv-0.7.35.ebuild
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ RDEPEND="
 	app-arch/rpm
 	app-arch/xz-utils
 	app-arch/zstd:=
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	expat? ( dev-libs/expat )
 	!expat? ( dev-libs/libxml2 )
 	zchunk? ( app-arch/zchunk )
diff --git a/dev-libs/lsquic/lsquic-4.0.12.ebuild b/dev-libs/lsquic/lsquic-4.0.12.ebuild
index c40b487561..980bdd3fb0 100644
--- a/dev-libs/lsquic/lsquic-4.0.12.ebuild
+++ b/dev-libs/lsquic/lsquic-4.0.12.ebuild
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ DEPEND="
 "
 RDEPEND="
 	${DEPEND}
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 "
 
 PATCHES=(
diff --git a/dev-libs/lsquic/lsquic-4.2.0.ebuild b/dev-libs/lsquic/lsquic-4.2.0.ebuild
index 4465b8ede9..172d79bae7 100644
--- a/dev-libs/lsquic/lsquic-4.2.0.ebuild
+++ b/dev-libs/lsquic/lsquic-4.2.0.ebuild
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ DEPEND="
 "
 RDEPEND="
 	${DEPEND}
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 "
 
 PATCHES=(
diff --git a/dev-scheme/sagittarius/sagittarius-0.9.12.ebuild b/dev-scheme/sagittarius/sagittarius-0.9.12.ebuild
index b1cd96409b..502eda2ffd 100644
--- a/dev-scheme/sagittarius/sagittarius-0.9.12.ebuild
+++ b/dev-scheme/sagittarius/sagittarius-0.9.12.ebuild
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ DEPEND="
 	dev-libs/boehm-gc
 	dev-libs/libffi
 	dev-libs/openssl
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 "
 RDEPEND="${DEPEND}"
 
diff --git a/dev-tex/tectonic/tectonic-0.15.0-r1.ebuild b/dev-tex/tectonic/tectonic-0.15.0-r1.ebuild
index f858713844..3b70af80ec 100644
--- a/dev-tex/tectonic/tectonic-0.15.0-r1.ebuild
+++ b/dev-tex/tectonic/tectonic-0.15.0-r1.ebuild
@@ -369,7 +369,7 @@ DEPEND="
 	media-libs/freetype
 	media-libs/harfbuzz:=
 	media-libs/libpng:=
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 "
 RDEPEND="${DEPEND}"
 BDEPEND="media-libs/harfbuzz"
diff --git a/dev-tex/tectonic/tectonic-0.15.0.ebuild b/dev-tex/tectonic/tectonic-0.15.0.ebuild
index 932d9069c6..ca57523f1c 100644
--- a/dev-tex/tectonic/tectonic-0.15.0.ebuild
+++ b/dev-tex/tectonic/tectonic-0.15.0.ebuild
@@ -369,7 +369,7 @@ DEPEND="
 	media-libs/freetype
 	media-libs/harfbuzz:=
 	media-libs/libpng:=
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 "
 RDEPEND="${DEPEND}"
 BDEPEND="media-libs/harfbuzz"
diff --git a/dev-util/DirectXShaderCompiler/DirectXShaderCompiler-1.8.2502.ebuild b/dev-util/DirectXShaderCompiler/DirectXShaderCompiler-1.8.2502.ebuild
index f598f6cccf..f5880f3eaa 100644
--- a/dev-util/DirectXShaderCompiler/DirectXShaderCompiler-1.8.2502.ebuild
+++ b/dev-util/DirectXShaderCompiler/DirectXShaderCompiler-1.8.2502.ebuild
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ DEPEND="${PYTHON_DEPS}"
 #	dev-util/spirv-headers
 #	dev-util/spirv-tools
 RDEPEND="
-	virtual/zlib:0=
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	>=dev-libs/libffi-3.4.2-r1:0=
 "
 BDEPEND="sys-devel/gnuconfig"
diff --git a/dev-util/DirectXShaderCompiler/DirectXShaderCompiler-1.8.2505.ebuild b/dev-util/DirectXShaderCompiler/DirectXShaderCompiler-1.8.2505.ebuild
index a71b20c167..1d7915955e 100644
--- a/dev-util/DirectXShaderCompiler/DirectXShaderCompiler-1.8.2505.ebuild
+++ b/dev-util/DirectXShaderCompiler/DirectXShaderCompiler-1.8.2505.ebuild
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ DEPEND="${PYTHON_DEPS}"
 #	dev-util/spirv-headers
 #	dev-util/spirv-tools
 RDEPEND="
-	virtual/zlib:0=
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	>=dev-libs/libffi-3.4.2-r1:0=
 "
 BDEPEND="sys-devel/gnuconfig"
diff --git a/dev-util/dmg2img/dmg2img-20201227.ebuild b/dev-util/dmg2img/dmg2img-20201227.ebuild
index a8b944bbfc..0f5def36de 100644
--- a/dev-util/dmg2img/dmg2img-20201227.ebuild
+++ b/dev-util/dmg2img/dmg2img-20201227.ebuild
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ KEYWORDS="~amd64 ~x86"
 
 DEPEND="
 	dev-libs/openssl
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 "
 RDEPEND="${DEPEND}"
 
diff --git a/dev-util/dmg2img/dmg2img-9999.ebuild b/dev-util/dmg2img/dmg2img-9999.ebuild
index 2510cc476a..8b967afcc7 100644
--- a/dev-util/dmg2img/dmg2img-9999.ebuild
+++ b/dev-util/dmg2img/dmg2img-9999.ebuild
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ SLOT="0"
 DEPEND="
 	app-arch/bzip2
 	dev-libs/openssl
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 "
 RDEPEND="${DEPEND}"
 BDEPEND="${DEPEND}"
diff --git a/dev-util/rust-rover/rust-rover-2024.2.1-r1.ebuild b/dev-util/rust-rover/rust-rover-2024.2.1-r1.ebuild
index 2434af69d8..eef40a8fa5 100644
--- a/dev-util/rust-rover/rust-rover-2024.2.1-r1.ebuild
+++ b/dev-util/rust-rover/rust-rover-2024.2.1-r1.ebuild
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ RDEPEND="!bundled-jdk? ( >=virtual/jre-1.8 )
 	media-libs/mesa
 	net-print/cups
 	sys-apps/dbus
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	x11-libs/cairo
 	x11-libs/libdrm
 	x11-libs/libX11
diff --git a/dev-util/rust-rover/rust-rover-2025.2.1.ebuild b/dev-util/rust-rover/rust-rover-2025.2.1.ebuild
index b734ed999d..07f93e2da1 100644
--- a/dev-util/rust-rover/rust-rover-2025.2.1.ebuild
+++ b/dev-util/rust-rover/rust-rover-2025.2.1.ebuild
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ RDEPEND="!bundled-jdk? ( >=virtual/jre-1.8 )
 	media-libs/mesa
 	net-print/cups
 	sys-apps/dbus
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	x11-libs/cairo
 	x11-libs/libdrm
 	x11-libs/libX11
diff --git a/dev-util/rust-rover/rust-rover-2025.2.2.ebuild b/dev-util/rust-rover/rust-rover-2025.2.2.ebuild
index b734ed999d..07f93e2da1 100644
--- a/dev-util/rust-rover/rust-rover-2025.2.2.ebuild
+++ b/dev-util/rust-rover/rust-rover-2025.2.2.ebuild
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ RDEPEND="!bundled-jdk? ( >=virtual/jre-1.8 )
 	media-libs/mesa
 	net-print/cups
 	sys-apps/dbus
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	x11-libs/cairo
 	x11-libs/libdrm
 	x11-libs/libX11
diff --git a/dev-util/rust-rover/rust-rover-2025.2.3.ebuild b/dev-util/rust-rover/rust-rover-2025.2.3.ebuild
index b734ed999d..07f93e2da1 100644
--- a/dev-util/rust-rover/rust-rover-2025.2.3.ebuild
+++ b/dev-util/rust-rover/rust-rover-2025.2.3.ebuild
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ RDEPEND="!bundled-jdk? ( >=virtual/jre-1.8 )
 	media-libs/mesa
 	net-print/cups
 	sys-apps/dbus
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	x11-libs/cairo
 	x11-libs/libdrm
 	x11-libs/libX11
diff --git a/dev-util/rust-rover/rust-rover-2025.2.4.1.ebuild b/dev-util/rust-rover/rust-rover-2025.2.4.1.ebuild
index b734ed999d..07f93e2da1 100644
--- a/dev-util/rust-rover/rust-rover-2025.2.4.1.ebuild
+++ b/dev-util/rust-rover/rust-rover-2025.2.4.1.ebuild
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ RDEPEND="!bundled-jdk? ( >=virtual/jre-1.8 )
 	media-libs/mesa
 	net-print/cups
 	sys-apps/dbus
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	x11-libs/cairo
 	x11-libs/libdrm
 	x11-libs/libX11
diff --git a/dev-util/rye/rye-0.44.0.ebuild b/dev-util/rye/rye-0.44.0.ebuild
index da2aabdf06..31bb9a3a60 100644
--- a/dev-util/rye/rye-0.44.0.ebuild
+++ b/dev-util/rye/rye-0.44.0.ebuild
@@ -332,7 +332,7 @@ SLOT="0"
 KEYWORDS="~amd64"
 
 DEPEND="
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 "
 RDEPEND="${DEPEND}"
 
diff --git a/dev-vcs/gitahead/gitahead-2.7.1-r1.ebuild b/dev-vcs/gitahead/gitahead-2.7.1-r1.ebuild
index 79c1c22b8a..d70dcc67d0 100644
--- a/dev-vcs/gitahead/gitahead-2.7.1-r1.ebuild
+++ b/dev-vcs/gitahead/gitahead-2.7.1-r1.ebuild
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ RDEPEND="
 	dev-qt/qtbase:6[concurrent,gui,network,widgets]
 	net-libs/http-parser:=
 	net-libs/libssh2
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	gnome-keyring? (
 		app-crypt/libsecret
 	)
diff --git a/dev-vcs/gitui/gitui-0.26.3.ebuild b/dev-vcs/gitui/gitui-0.26.3.ebuild
index 9016a8b87b..d0dc8733df 100644
--- a/dev-vcs/gitui/gitui-0.26.3.ebuild
+++ b/dev-vcs/gitui/gitui-0.26.3.ebuild
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ KEYWORDS="~amd64"
 RDEPEND="
 	dev-libs/openssl:=
 	net-libs/libssh2
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 "
 DEPEND="${RDEPEND}"
 
diff --git a/dev-vcs/gitui/gitui-0.27.0.ebuild b/dev-vcs/gitui/gitui-0.27.0.ebuild
index bd7fdd521b..6bbae32b58 100644
--- a/dev-vcs/gitui/gitui-0.27.0.ebuild
+++ b/dev-vcs/gitui/gitui-0.27.0.ebuild
@@ -432,7 +432,7 @@ KEYWORDS="~amd64"
 RDEPEND="
 	dev-libs/openssl:=
 	net-libs/libssh2
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 "
 DEPEND="${RDEPEND}"
 
diff --git a/games-action/ddnet/ddnet-19.5.ebuild b/games-action/ddnet/ddnet-19.5.ebuild
index ad7b2fe47a..2a18c50ab7 100644
--- a/games-action/ddnet/ddnet-19.5.ebuild
+++ b/games-action/ddnet/ddnet-19.5.ebuild
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ DEPEND="
 		videorecorder? ( media-video/ffmpeg )
 	)
 	dev-libs/glib
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	dev-libs/openssl
 	dev-db/sqlite
 	download-gtest? (
diff --git a/games-arcade/taisei/taisei-1.4.2.ebuild b/games-arcade/taisei/taisei-1.4.2.ebuild
index 51944c5770..307caee992 100644
--- a/games-arcade/taisei/taisei-1.4.2.ebuild
+++ b/games-arcade/taisei/taisei-1.4.2.ebuild
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ RDEPEND="
 	media-libs/libwebp
 	media-libs/opusfile
 	app-arch/zstd
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	dev-libs/openssl:=
 	zip? ( dev-libs/libzip[zstd] )
 "
diff --git a/games-arcade/taisei/taisei-1.4.3.ebuild b/games-arcade/taisei/taisei-1.4.3.ebuild
index 8bcdd2a438..488792cd25 100644
--- a/games-arcade/taisei/taisei-1.4.3.ebuild
+++ b/games-arcade/taisei/taisei-1.4.3.ebuild
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ RDEPEND="
 	media-libs/libwebp
 	media-libs/opusfile
 	app-arch/zstd
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	dev-libs/openssl:=
 	mimalloc? ( dev-libs/mimalloc:= )
 	zip? ( dev-libs/libzip[zstd] )
diff --git a/games-arcade/taisei/taisei-1.4.4.ebuild b/games-arcade/taisei/taisei-1.4.4.ebuild
index 8bcdd2a438..488792cd25 100644
--- a/games-arcade/taisei/taisei-1.4.4.ebuild
+++ b/games-arcade/taisei/taisei-1.4.4.ebuild
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ RDEPEND="
 	media-libs/libwebp
 	media-libs/opusfile
 	app-arch/zstd
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	dev-libs/openssl:=
 	mimalloc? ( dev-libs/mimalloc:= )
 	zip? ( dev-libs/libzip[zstd] )
diff --git a/games-arcade/taisei/taisei-9999.ebuild b/games-arcade/taisei/taisei-9999.ebuild
index 5e6bb569e6..f4aa8f2441 100644
--- a/games-arcade/taisei/taisei-9999.ebuild
+++ b/games-arcade/taisei/taisei-9999.ebuild
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ RDEPEND="
 	media-libs/libwebp
 	media-libs/opusfile
 	app-arch/zstd
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	dev-libs/openssl:=
 	zip? ( dev-libs/libzip[zstd] )
 "
diff --git a/games-emulation/RetroArch/RetroArch-1.19.1.ebuild b/games-emulation/RetroArch/RetroArch-1.19.1.ebuild
index 9856e75519..8849442d92 100644
--- a/games-emulation/RetroArch/RetroArch-1.19.1.ebuild
+++ b/games-emulation/RetroArch/RetroArch-1.19.1.ebuild
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ RDEPEND="
 	)
 	xinerama? ( x11-libs/libXinerama:0= )
 	xv? ( x11-libs/libXv )
-	zlib? ( virtual/zlib:0= )
+	zlib? ( virtual/zlib:= )
 "
 DEPEND="${RDEPEND}"
 BDEPEND="
diff --git a/games-emulation/RetroArch/RetroArch-1.20.0.ebuild b/games-emulation/RetroArch/RetroArch-1.20.0.ebuild
index 381f017392..003269cdd1 100644
--- a/games-emulation/RetroArch/RetroArch-1.20.0.ebuild
+++ b/games-emulation/RetroArch/RetroArch-1.20.0.ebuild
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ RDEPEND="
 	)
 	xinerama? ( x11-libs/libXinerama:0= )
 	xv? ( x11-libs/libXv )
-	zlib? ( virtual/zlib:0= )
+	zlib? ( virtual/zlib:= )
 "
 DEPEND="${RDEPEND}"
 BDEPEND="
diff --git a/games-emulation/RetroArch/RetroArch-1.21.0.ebuild b/games-emulation/RetroArch/RetroArch-1.21.0.ebuild
index 7ef0bcbceb..051b2a0a9d 100644
--- a/games-emulation/RetroArch/RetroArch-1.21.0.ebuild
+++ b/games-emulation/RetroArch/RetroArch-1.21.0.ebuild
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ RDEPEND="
 	)
 	xinerama? ( x11-libs/libXinerama:0= )
 	xv? ( x11-libs/libXv )
-	zlib? ( virtual/zlib:0= )
+	zlib? ( virtual/zlib:= )
 "
 DEPEND="${RDEPEND}"
 BDEPEND="
diff --git a/games-emulation/dosbox-x/dosbox-x-2025.05.03.ebuild b/games-emulation/dosbox-x/dosbox-x-2025.05.03.ebuild
index 24de445b40..9b060940af 100644
--- a/games-emulation/dosbox-x/dosbox-x-2025.05.03.ebuild
+++ b/games-emulation/dosbox-x/dosbox-x-2025.05.03.ebuild
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ COMMON_DEPEND="
 	media-libs/libsdl2[X,alsa,opengl?,sound,threads(+),video]
 	media-libs/sdl2-net
 	net-libs/libpcap
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	X? (
 		x11-libs/libX11
 		x11-libs/libXrandr
diff --git a/games-emulation/dosbox-x/dosbox-x-2025.10.07.ebuild b/games-emulation/dosbox-x/dosbox-x-2025.10.07.ebuild
index 24de445b40..9b060940af 100644
--- a/games-emulation/dosbox-x/dosbox-x-2025.10.07.ebuild
+++ b/games-emulation/dosbox-x/dosbox-x-2025.10.07.ebuild
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ COMMON_DEPEND="
 	media-libs/libsdl2[X,alsa,opengl?,sound,threads(+),video]
 	media-libs/sdl2-net
 	net-libs/libpcap
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	X? (
 		x11-libs/libX11
 		x11-libs/libXrandr
diff --git a/games-emulation/dosbox-x/dosbox-x-9999.ebuild b/games-emulation/dosbox-x/dosbox-x-9999.ebuild
index 24de445b40..9b060940af 100644
--- a/games-emulation/dosbox-x/dosbox-x-9999.ebuild
+++ b/games-emulation/dosbox-x/dosbox-x-9999.ebuild
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ COMMON_DEPEND="
 	media-libs/libsdl2[X,alsa,opengl?,sound,threads(+),video]
 	media-libs/sdl2-net
 	net-libs/libpcap
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	X? (
 		x11-libs/libX11
 		x11-libs/libXrandr
diff --git a/games-emulation/eden/eden-0.0.4_rc2.ebuild b/games-emulation/eden/eden-0.0.4_rc2.ebuild
index 54c3104876..465ad61816 100644
--- a/games-emulation/eden/eden-0.0.4_rc2.ebuild
+++ b/games-emulation/eden/eden-0.0.4_rc2.ebuild
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ RDEPEND="
 	media-video/ffmpeg
 	net-libs/enet
 	net-libs/mbedtls:3
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 
 	camera? ( dev-qt/qtmultimedia:6 )
 	cubeb? ( media-libs/cubeb )
diff --git a/games-emulation/flycast/flycast-9999.ebuild b/games-emulation/flycast/flycast-9999.ebuild
index 0db5a9f6fd..eb405ab29c 100644
--- a/games-emulation/flycast/flycast-9999.ebuild
+++ b/games-emulation/flycast/flycast-9999.ebuild
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ DEPEND="
 	dev-libs/xxhash
 	media-libs/libsdl2
 	net-libs/miniupnpc
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	alsa? ( media-libs/alsa-lib )
 	ao? ( media-libs/libao )
 	lua? ( ${LUA_DEPS} )
diff --git a/games-emulation/rpcs3/rpcs3-0.0.37.ebuild b/games-emulation/rpcs3/rpcs3-0.0.37.ebuild
index 9e344936f4..bf2970a7a6 100644
--- a/games-emulation/rpcs3/rpcs3-0.0.37.ebuild
+++ b/games-emulation/rpcs3/rpcs3-0.0.37.ebuild
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ DEPEND="
 	media-video/ffmpeg:=
 	net-misc/curl
 	llvm-core/llvm:=
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	virtual/libusb:1
 	x11-libs/libX11
 	faudio? ( app-emulation/faudio )
diff --git a/games-emulation/rpcs3/rpcs3-0.0.38.ebuild b/games-emulation/rpcs3/rpcs3-0.0.38.ebuild
index 4c0d9b3c9a..3c86ba2ce3 100644
--- a/games-emulation/rpcs3/rpcs3-0.0.38.ebuild
+++ b/games-emulation/rpcs3/rpcs3-0.0.38.ebuild
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ DEPEND="
 	net-libs/miniupnpc:=
 	net-misc/curl
 	llvm-core/llvm:=
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	virtual/libusb:1
 	x11-libs/libX11
 	faudio? ( app-emulation/faudio )
diff --git a/games-emulation/rpcs3/rpcs3-9999.ebuild b/games-emulation/rpcs3/rpcs3-9999.ebuild
index 4c0d9b3c9a..3c86ba2ce3 100644
--- a/games-emulation/rpcs3/rpcs3-9999.ebuild
+++ b/games-emulation/rpcs3/rpcs3-9999.ebuild
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ DEPEND="
 	net-libs/miniupnpc:=
 	net-misc/curl
 	llvm-core/llvm:=
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	virtual/libusb:1
 	x11-libs/libX11
 	faudio? ( app-emulation/faudio )
diff --git a/games-engines/ponscripter-fork/ponscripter-fork-3.0.2.ebuild b/games-engines/ponscripter-fork/ponscripter-fork-3.0.2.ebuild
index f33d5b5c63..74972d23c4 100644
--- a/games-engines/ponscripter-fork/ponscripter-fork-3.0.2.ebuild
+++ b/games-engines/ponscripter-fork/ponscripter-fork-3.0.2.ebuild
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ RDEPEND="
 	media-libs/libpng
 	media-libs/libvorbis
 	media-libs/smpeg2
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 "
 DEPEND="${RDEPEND}"
 
diff --git a/games-engines/xsystem35-sdl2/xsystem35-sdl2-2.15.1.ebuild b/games-engines/xsystem35-sdl2/xsystem35-sdl2-2.15.1.ebuild
index ffc3f38a4a..65e8b93b2b 100644
--- a/games-engines/xsystem35-sdl2/xsystem35-sdl2-2.15.1.ebuild
+++ b/games-engines/xsystem35-sdl2/xsystem35-sdl2-2.15.1.ebuild
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ DEPEND="
 	media-libs/libsdl2
 	media-libs/sdl2-mixer
 	media-libs/sdl2-ttf
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	webp? ( media-libs/libwebp )
 	debug? ( dev-libs/cJSON )
 	portmidi? ( media-libs/portmidi )
diff --git a/games-engines/xsystem35-sdl2/xsystem35-sdl2-2.16.0.ebuild b/games-engines/xsystem35-sdl2/xsystem35-sdl2-2.16.0.ebuild
index ffc3f38a4a..65e8b93b2b 100644
--- a/games-engines/xsystem35-sdl2/xsystem35-sdl2-2.16.0.ebuild
+++ b/games-engines/xsystem35-sdl2/xsystem35-sdl2-2.16.0.ebuild
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ DEPEND="
 	media-libs/libsdl2
 	media-libs/sdl2-mixer
 	media-libs/sdl2-ttf
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	webp? ( media-libs/libwebp )
 	debug? ( dev-libs/cJSON )
 	portmidi? ( media-libs/portmidi )
diff --git a/games-engines/xsystem35-sdl2/xsystem35-sdl2-2.16.1.ebuild b/games-engines/xsystem35-sdl2/xsystem35-sdl2-2.16.1.ebuild
index ffc3f38a4a..65e8b93b2b 100644
--- a/games-engines/xsystem35-sdl2/xsystem35-sdl2-2.16.1.ebuild
+++ b/games-engines/xsystem35-sdl2/xsystem35-sdl2-2.16.1.ebuild
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ DEPEND="
 	media-libs/libsdl2
 	media-libs/sdl2-mixer
 	media-libs/sdl2-ttf
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	webp? ( media-libs/libwebp )
 	debug? ( dev-libs/cJSON )
 	portmidi? ( media-libs/portmidi )
diff --git a/games-engines/xsystem4/xsystem4-1.0.0.ebuild b/games-engines/xsystem4/xsystem4-1.0.0.ebuild
index f8085e9c46..d8d763b369 100644
--- a/games-engines/xsystem4/xsystem4-1.0.0.ebuild
+++ b/games-engines/xsystem4/xsystem4-1.0.0.ebuild
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ RDEPEND="
 	media-libs/libsndfile
 	media-libs/libsdl2
 	media-libs/libwebp
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	media-libs/libjpeg-turbo
 	>=media-video/ffmpeg-5.1
 	gles2? (
diff --git a/games-engines/xsystem4/xsystem4-9999.ebuild b/games-engines/xsystem4/xsystem4-9999.ebuild
index efbf6c0b67..11d9c328b0 100644
--- a/games-engines/xsystem4/xsystem4-9999.ebuild
+++ b/games-engines/xsystem4/xsystem4-9999.ebuild
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ RDEPEND="
 	media-libs/libsndfile
 	media-libs/libsdl2
 	media-libs/libwebp
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	media-libs/libjpeg-turbo
 	>=media-video/ffmpeg-5.1
 	gles2? (
diff --git a/games-fps/assaultcube/assaultcube-1.3.0.2-r1.ebuild b/games-fps/assaultcube/assaultcube-1.3.0.2-r1.ebuild
index c876585ce9..0464937022 100644
--- a/games-fps/assaultcube/assaultcube-1.3.0.2-r1.ebuild
+++ b/games-fps/assaultcube/assaultcube-1.3.0.2-r1.ebuild
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ KEYWORDS="~amd64"
 IUSE="debug"
 
 RDEPEND="
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	media-libs/libsdl2[opengl]
 	media-libs/sdl2-image[jpeg,png]
 	x11-libs/libX11
diff --git a/games-fps/crispy-doom/crispy-doom-5.12.0.ebuild b/games-fps/crispy-doom/crispy-doom-5.12.0.ebuild
index 3fd660dc1e..9e2e41c5c9 100644
--- a/games-fps/crispy-doom/crispy-doom-5.12.0.ebuild
+++ b/games-fps/crispy-doom/crispy-doom-5.12.0.ebuild
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ DEPEND="
 	media-libs/sdl2-net
 	libsamplerate? ( media-libs/libsamplerate )
 	png? ( media-libs/libpng:= )
-	zlib? ( virtual/zlib )"
+	zlib? ( virtual/zlib:= )"
 RDEPEND="${DEPEND}"
 # ${PYTHON_DEPS} for bash-completion
 BDEPEND="
diff --git a/games-fps/crispy-doom/crispy-doom-6.0.ebuild b/games-fps/crispy-doom/crispy-doom-6.0.ebuild
index 858bfb88e1..98adf85743 100644
--- a/games-fps/crispy-doom/crispy-doom-6.0.ebuild
+++ b/games-fps/crispy-doom/crispy-doom-6.0.ebuild
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ DEPEND="
 	media-libs/sdl2-net
 	libsamplerate? ( media-libs/libsamplerate )
 	png? ( media-libs/libpng:= )
-	zlib? ( virtual/zlib )"
+	zlib? ( virtual/zlib:= )"
 RDEPEND="${DEPEND}"
 # ${PYTHON_DEPS} for bash-completion
 BDEPEND="
diff --git a/games-roguelike/cataclysm-dda/cataclysm-dda-0h.ebuild b/games-roguelike/cataclysm-dda/cataclysm-dda-0h.ebuild
index 5ce7cdfdab..906b99e16e 100644
--- a/games-roguelike/cataclysm-dda/cataclysm-dda-0h.ebuild
+++ b/games-roguelike/cataclysm-dda/cataclysm-dda-0h.ebuild
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ REQUIRED_USE="soundpack? ( sound ) sound? ( tiles ) \
 RESTRICT="!test? ( test )"
 
 RDEPEND="
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	ncurses? ( sys-libs/ncurses )
 	tiles? (
 		media-libs/libsdl2[video]
diff --git a/games-roguelike/cataclysm-dda/cataclysm-dda-9999.ebuild b/games-roguelike/cataclysm-dda/cataclysm-dda-9999.ebuild
index 2b5d6f2696..88f9bda03b 100644
--- a/games-roguelike/cataclysm-dda/cataclysm-dda-9999.ebuild
+++ b/games-roguelike/cataclysm-dda/cataclysm-dda-9999.ebuild
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ REQUIRED_USE="soundpack? ( sound ) sound? ( tiles ) \
 RESTRICT="!test? ( test )"
 
 RDEPEND="
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	ncurses? ( sys-libs/ncurses )
 	tiles? (
 		media-libs/libsdl2[video]
diff --git a/games-util/gamehub/gamehub-0.16.3.2-r2.ebuild b/games-util/gamehub/gamehub-0.16.3.2-r2.ebuild
index 902909a83b..d210407df0 100644
--- a/games-util/gamehub/gamehub-0.16.3.2-r2.ebuild
+++ b/games-util/gamehub/gamehub-0.16.3.2-r2.ebuild
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ RDEPEND="
 	net-libs/libsoup:2.4
 	net-libs/webkit-gtk:4.1=
 	sys-auth/polkit
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	x11-libs/cairo
 	x11-libs/gdk-pixbuf:2
 	x11-libs/gtk+:3
diff --git a/gui-apps/organicmaps/organicmaps-9999.ebuild b/gui-apps/organicmaps/organicmaps-9999.ebuild
index 3ac14466f2..ee199f1f57 100644
--- a/gui-apps/organicmaps/organicmaps-9999.ebuild
+++ b/gui-apps/organicmaps/organicmaps-9999.ebuild
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ SLOT="0"
 
 REQUIRED_USE="${PYTHON_REQUIRED_USE}"
 
-# depend on virtual/zlib[minizip] when it is not pulled in as subproject anymore
+# depend on virtual/zlib:=[minizip] when it is not pulled in as subproject anymore
 RDEPEND="
 	dev-cpp/gflags
 	dev-db/sqlite
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ RDEPEND="
 	dev-qt/qtsvg:6
 	dev-util/vulkan-headers
 	media-libs/freetype
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	${PYTHON_DEPS}
 "
 DEPEND="${RDEPEND}"
diff --git a/media-gfx/pdf4qt/pdf4qt-1.5.1.0.ebuild b/media-gfx/pdf4qt/pdf4qt-1.5.1.0.ebuild
index aa4a607b7b..b7f21c53ec 100644
--- a/media-gfx/pdf4qt/pdf4qt-1.5.1.0.ebuild
+++ b/media-gfx/pdf4qt/pdf4qt-1.5.1.0.ebuild
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ RDEPEND="
 	media-libs/lcms
 	media-libs/libjpeg-turbo
 	media-libs/openjpeg
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 "
 DEPEND="$RDEPEND
 	test? ( dev-qt/qtbase:6[test] )
diff --git a/media-gfx/pdf4qt/pdf4qt-9999.ebuild b/media-gfx/pdf4qt/pdf4qt-9999.ebuild
index 7a0e6ee50c..562ccc27c7 100644
--- a/media-gfx/pdf4qt/pdf4qt-9999.ebuild
+++ b/media-gfx/pdf4qt/pdf4qt-9999.ebuild
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ RDEPEND="
 	media-libs/lcms
 	media-libs/libjpeg-turbo
 	media-libs/openjpeg
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 "
 DEPEND="$RDEPEND
 	test? ( dev-qt/qtbase:6[test] )
diff --git a/media-gfx/zw3d/zw3d-2025.0.3.0.ebuild b/media-gfx/zw3d/zw3d-2025.0.3.0.ebuild
index 6b5f05bd02..8d63ef54b6 100644
--- a/media-gfx/zw3d/zw3d-2025.0.3.0.ebuild
+++ b/media-gfx/zw3d/zw3d-2025.0.3.0.ebuild
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ RDEPEND="
 	media-libs/tiff
 	media-libs/tiff-compat:4
 	net-libs/zeromq
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	x11-libs/cairo
 	x11-libs/gdk-pixbuf:2
 	x11-libs/gtk+:3
diff --git a/media-libs/amdvlk/amdvlk-2025.2.1.ebuild b/media-libs/amdvlk/amdvlk-2025.2.1.ebuild
index 7579383811..5ee78007c0 100644
--- a/media-libs/amdvlk/amdvlk-2025.2.1.ebuild
+++ b/media-libs/amdvlk/amdvlk-2025.2.1.ebuild
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ KEYWORDS="~amd64 ~x86"
 IUSE="wayland +raytracing"
 REQUIRED_USE="|| ( abi_x86_32 abi_x86_64 )"
 
-BUNDLED_LLVM_DEPEND="virtual/zlib:0=[${MULTILIB_USEDEP}]"
+BUNDLED_LLVM_DEPEND="virtual/zlib:=[${MULTILIB_USEDEP}]"
 DEPEND="wayland? ( dev-libs/wayland[${MULTILIB_USEDEP}] )
 	${BUNDLED_LLVM_DEPEND}
 	app-arch/zstd:=[${MULTILIB_USEDEP}]
diff --git a/media-sound/furnace/furnace-0.6.5-r1.ebuild b/media-sound/furnace/furnace-0.6.5-r1.ebuild
index be87c5149d..238ff814c5 100644
--- a/media-sound/furnace/furnace-0.6.5-r1.ebuild
+++ b/media-sound/furnace/furnace-0.6.5-r1.ebuild
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ RDEPEND="
 	media-libs/portaudio
 	media-libs/rtmidi
 	sci-libs/fftw
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	x11-themes/hicolor-icon-theme
 	jack? ( virtual/jack )
 "
diff --git a/media-sound/furnace/furnace-0.6.7.ebuild b/media-sound/furnace/furnace-0.6.7.ebuild
index be87c5149d..238ff814c5 100644
--- a/media-sound/furnace/furnace-0.6.7.ebuild
+++ b/media-sound/furnace/furnace-0.6.7.ebuild
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ RDEPEND="
 	media-libs/portaudio
 	media-libs/rtmidi
 	sci-libs/fftw
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	x11-themes/hicolor-icon-theme
 	jack? ( virtual/jack )
 "
diff --git a/media-sound/furnace/furnace-0.6.ebuild b/media-sound/furnace/furnace-0.6.ebuild
index 75c026527f..8811e3ed81 100644
--- a/media-sound/furnace/furnace-0.6.ebuild
+++ b/media-sound/furnace/furnace-0.6.ebuild
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ RDEPEND="
 	media-libs/portaudio
 	media-libs/rtmidi
 	sci-libs/fftw
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	x11-themes/hicolor-icon-theme
 	jack? ( virtual/jack )
 "
diff --git a/media-sound/noson-app/noson-app-5.6.6-r1.ebuild b/media-sound/noson-app/noson-app-5.6.6-r1.ebuild
index 59f8bbee9b..5cea01ef01 100644
--- a/media-sound/noson-app/noson-app-5.6.6-r1.ebuild
+++ b/media-sound/noson-app/noson-app-5.6.6-r1.ebuild
@@ -26,6 +26,6 @@ DEPEND="
 	dev-qt/qtxml:5
 	media-libs/flac:=
 	media-libs/libpulse
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 "
 RDEPEND="${DEPEND}"
diff --git a/media-sound/noson-app/noson-app-5.6.8.ebuild b/media-sound/noson-app/noson-app-5.6.8.ebuild
index 59f8bbee9b..5cea01ef01 100644
--- a/media-sound/noson-app/noson-app-5.6.8.ebuild
+++ b/media-sound/noson-app/noson-app-5.6.8.ebuild
@@ -26,6 +26,6 @@ DEPEND="
 	dev-qt/qtxml:5
 	media-libs/flac:=
 	media-libs/libpulse
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 "
 RDEPEND="${DEPEND}"
diff --git a/media-sound/spot/spot-0.4.0-r2.ebuild b/media-sound/spot/spot-0.4.0-r2.ebuild
index a1249fead0..9719ef8185 100644
--- a/media-sound/spot/spot-0.4.0-r2.ebuild
+++ b/media-sound/spot/spot-0.4.0-r2.ebuild
@@ -396,7 +396,7 @@ DEPEND="
 		>=gui-libs/libadwaita-1.3.3:1
 		>=media-libs/alsa-lib-1.2.9
 		>=media-libs/libpulse-15.0[glib]
-		virtual/zlib
+		virtual/zlib:=
 		x11-libs/cairo
 		x11-libs/gdk-pixbuf:2
 		x11-libs/pango
diff --git a/media-sound/tenacity/tenacity-1.3.4-r4.ebuild b/media-sound/tenacity/tenacity-1.3.4-r4.ebuild
index c158fcf51f..24e70a30cc 100644
--- a/media-sound/tenacity/tenacity-1.3.4-r4.ebuild
+++ b/media-sound/tenacity/tenacity-1.3.4-r4.ebuild
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ REQUIRED_USE="
 "
 
 DEPEND="
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	dev-libs/expat
 	media-sound/lame
 	media-libs/libsndfile
diff --git a/media-video/kikoplay/kikoplay-0.9.3.ebuild b/media-video/kikoplay/kikoplay-0.9.3.ebuild
index ff658ff3a3..3a0c4939f6 100644
--- a/media-video/kikoplay/kikoplay-0.9.3.ebuild
+++ b/media-video/kikoplay/kikoplay-0.9.3.ebuild
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ RDEPEND="
 	dev-qt/qtwidgets:5
 	media-video/mpv:=[libmpv]
 	net-misc/aria2
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 "
 
 DEPEND="
diff --git a/media-video/kikoplay/kikoplay-9999.ebuild b/media-video/kikoplay/kikoplay-9999.ebuild
index ff658ff3a3..3a0c4939f6 100644
--- a/media-video/kikoplay/kikoplay-9999.ebuild
+++ b/media-video/kikoplay/kikoplay-9999.ebuild
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ RDEPEND="
 	dev-qt/qtwidgets:5
 	media-video/mpv:=[libmpv]
 	net-misc/aria2
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 "
 
 DEPEND="
diff --git a/net-im/conduit/conduit-0.10.8.ebuild b/net-im/conduit/conduit-0.10.8.ebuild
index 0c71392bfa..182d090b06 100644
--- a/net-im/conduit/conduit-0.10.8.ebuild
+++ b/net-im/conduit/conduit-0.10.8.ebuild
@@ -474,7 +474,7 @@ IUSE="jemalloc rocksdb sqlite system-rocksdb"
 # Libraries that can't be unbundled right now:
 #	- app-arch/bzip2 ("rust-librocksdb-sys" pulls "bzip-sys[static]")
 #	- app-arch/lz4 ("lz4-sys" crate doesn't look for system library... ironic)
-#	- virtual/zlib ("rust-librocksdb-sys" pulls "libz-sys[static]")
+#	- virtual/zlib:= ("rust-librocksdb-sys" pulls "libz-sys[static]")
 COMMON_DEPEND="
 	jemalloc? ( dev-libs/jemalloc:= )
 	rocksdb? (
diff --git a/net-im/conduit/conduit-0.10.9.ebuild b/net-im/conduit/conduit-0.10.9.ebuild
index c9eeb34525..bf884641ea 100644
--- a/net-im/conduit/conduit-0.10.9.ebuild
+++ b/net-im/conduit/conduit-0.10.9.ebuild
@@ -474,7 +474,7 @@ IUSE="jemalloc rocksdb sqlite system-rocksdb"
 # Libraries that can't be unbundled right now:
 #	- app-arch/bzip2 ("rust-librocksdb-sys" pulls "bzip-sys[static]")
 #	- app-arch/lz4 ("lz4-sys" crate doesn't look for system library... ironic)
-#	- virtual/zlib ("rust-librocksdb-sys" pulls "libz-sys[static]")
+#	- virtual/zlib:= ("rust-librocksdb-sys" pulls "libz-sys[static]")
 COMMON_DEPEND="
 	jemalloc? ( dev-libs/jemalloc:= )
 	rocksdb? (
diff --git a/net-im/conduit/conduit-9999.ebuild b/net-im/conduit/conduit-9999.ebuild
index 75681753aa..eaf3358360 100644
--- a/net-im/conduit/conduit-9999.ebuild
+++ b/net-im/conduit/conduit-9999.ebuild
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ IUSE="jemalloc rocksdb sqlite system-rocksdb"
 # Libraries that can't be unbundled right now:
 #	- app-arch/bzip2 ("rust-librocksdb-sys" pulls "bzip-sys[static]")
 #	- app-arch/lz4 ("lz4-sys" crate doesn't look for system library... ironic)
-#	- virtual/zlib ("rust-librocksdb-sys" pulls "libz-sys[static]")
+#	- virtual/zlib:= ("rust-librocksdb-sys" pulls "libz-sys[static]")
 COMMON_DEPEND="
 	jemalloc? ( dev-libs/jemalloc:= )
 	rocksdb? (
diff --git a/net-libs/kcgi/kcgi-0.13.4.ebuild b/net-libs/kcgi/kcgi-0.13.4.ebuild
index ba7e55f572..1ed8158f2d 100644
--- a/net-libs/kcgi/kcgi-0.13.4.ebuild
+++ b/net-libs/kcgi/kcgi-0.13.4.ebuild
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ RDEPEND="
 DEPEND="${RDEPEND}
 	test? (
 		net-misc/curl
-		virtual/zlib
+		virtual/zlib:=
 	)
 "
 BDEPEND="
diff --git a/net-libs/ulfius/ulfius-2.7.15.ebuild b/net-libs/ulfius/ulfius-2.7.15.ebuild
index 9c771f5628..d3ba04363b 100644
--- a/net-libs/ulfius/ulfius-2.7.15.ebuild
+++ b/net-libs/ulfius/ulfius-2.7.15.ebuild
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ DEPEND="
 	net-libs/libmicrohttpd:=
 	net-libs/orcania
 	net-libs/yder
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 "
 RDEPEND="
 	${DEPEND}
diff --git a/net-misc/megasync/megasync-5.16.0.2.ebuild b/net-misc/megasync/megasync-5.16.0.2.ebuild
index a826e5f0f4..07569cb8c4 100644
--- a/net-misc/megasync/megasync-5.16.0.2.ebuild
+++ b/net-misc/megasync/megasync-5.16.0.2.ebuild
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ DEPEND="
 	dev-qt/qtwidgets:5
 	dev-qt/qtx11extras:5
 	net-misc/curl[ssl]
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	x11-libs/libxcb:=
 	dolphin? (
 		dev-qt/qtbase:6[network,widgets]
diff --git a/net-misc/megasync/megasync-6.0.0.3.ebuild b/net-misc/megasync/megasync-6.0.0.3.ebuild
index a32d4fc678..2acc81c32c 100644
--- a/net-misc/megasync/megasync-6.0.0.3.ebuild
+++ b/net-misc/megasync/megasync-6.0.0.3.ebuild
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ DEPEND="
 	dev-qt/qtwidgets:5
 	dev-qt/qtx11extras:5
 	net-misc/curl[ssl]
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	x11-libs/libxcb:=
 	dolphin? (
 		dev-qt/qtbase:6[network,widgets]
diff --git a/net-misc/rpki-client/rpki-client-9.2.ebuild b/net-misc/rpki-client/rpki-client-9.2.ebuild
index 6695223594..204e74ad2d 100644
--- a/net-misc/rpki-client/rpki-client-9.2.ebuild
+++ b/net-misc/rpki-client/rpki-client-9.2.ebuild
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ DEPEND="
 	dev-libs/expat
 	dev-libs/libretls
 	dev-libs/openssl[rfc3779]
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 "
 RDEPEND="${DEPEND}"
 BDEPEND="
diff --git a/net-misc/rpki-client/rpki-client-9.3.ebuild b/net-misc/rpki-client/rpki-client-9.3.ebuild
index 6695223594..204e74ad2d 100644
--- a/net-misc/rpki-client/rpki-client-9.3.ebuild
+++ b/net-misc/rpki-client/rpki-client-9.3.ebuild
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ DEPEND="
 	dev-libs/expat
 	dev-libs/libretls
 	dev-libs/openssl[rfc3779]
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 "
 RDEPEND="${DEPEND}"
 BDEPEND="
diff --git a/net-nntp/pan/pan-0.163.ebuild b/net-nntp/pan/pan-0.163.ebuild
index 9c07d370a9..4fe8e18c67 100644
--- a/net-nntp/pan/pan-0.163.ebuild
+++ b/net-nntp/pan/pan-0.163.ebuild
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ DEPEND="
 	libnotify? ( >=x11-libs/libnotify-0.4.1:0= )
 	spell? ( app-text/gspell )
 	ssl? ( >=net-libs/gnutls-3.3.6:0= )
-	>=virtual/zlib-1.2.0
+	>=virtual/zlib-1.2.0:=
 	x11-libs/cairo
 	x11-libs/gdk-pixbuf
 	x11-libs/pango
diff --git a/net-nntp/pan/pan-0.164.ebuild b/net-nntp/pan/pan-0.164.ebuild
index 9c07d370a9..4fe8e18c67 100644
--- a/net-nntp/pan/pan-0.164.ebuild
+++ b/net-nntp/pan/pan-0.164.ebuild
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ DEPEND="
 	libnotify? ( >=x11-libs/libnotify-0.4.1:0= )
 	spell? ( app-text/gspell )
 	ssl? ( >=net-libs/gnutls-3.3.6:0= )
-	>=virtual/zlib-1.2.0
+	>=virtual/zlib-1.2.0:=
 	x11-libs/cairo
 	x11-libs/gdk-pixbuf
 	x11-libs/pango
diff --git a/net-p2p/feather/feather-2.8.1-r1.ebuild b/net-p2p/feather/feather-2.8.1-r1.ebuild
index d27d4d165a..ef76bdc8f7 100644
--- a/net-p2p/feather/feather-2.8.1-r1.ebuild
+++ b/net-p2p/feather/feather-2.8.1-r1.ebuild
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ DEPEND="
 	>=dev-qt/qtmultimedia-6.9.1:6
 	>=dev-qt/qtwebsockets-6.9.1:6
 	dev-libs/libgcrypt:=
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	dev-libs/openssl:=
 	net-dns/unbound:=[threads]
 	net-libs/czmq:=
diff --git a/net-p2p/feather/feather-9999.ebuild b/net-p2p/feather/feather-9999.ebuild
index 25b6ff3b03..d1aed63a92 100644
--- a/net-p2p/feather/feather-9999.ebuild
+++ b/net-p2p/feather/feather-9999.ebuild
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ DEPEND="
 	>=dev-qt/qtmultimedia-6.7.3:6
 	>=dev-qt/qtwebsockets-6.7.3:6
 	dev-libs/libgcrypt:=
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	dev-libs/openssl:=
 	net-dns/unbound:=[threads]
 	net-libs/czmq:=
diff --git a/net-p2p/fragments/fragments-3.0.1-r1.ebuild b/net-p2p/fragments/fragments-3.0.1-r1.ebuild
index 3b3784a0e4..db5197a60e 100644
--- a/net-p2p/fragments/fragments-3.0.1-r1.ebuild
+++ b/net-p2p/fragments/fragments-3.0.1-r1.ebuild
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ RDEPEND="
 	>=gui-libs/libadwaita-1.5.0:1
 	net-p2p/transmission
 	sys-apps/dbus
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	x11-libs/pango
 "
 DEPEND="${RDEPEND}"
diff --git a/net-p2p/fragments/fragments-3.0.1-r2.ebuild b/net-p2p/fragments/fragments-3.0.1-r2.ebuild
index 1f2abf9f85..76e35e0335 100644
--- a/net-p2p/fragments/fragments-3.0.1-r2.ebuild
+++ b/net-p2p/fragments/fragments-3.0.1-r2.ebuild
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ RDEPEND="
 	>=gui-libs/libadwaita-1.5.0:1
 	net-p2p/transmission
 	sys-apps/dbus
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	x11-libs/cairo
 	x11-libs/gdk-pixbuf:2
 	x11-libs/pango
diff --git a/net-proxy/MTProxy/MTProxy-3.0.4-r1.ebuild b/net-proxy/MTProxy/MTProxy-3.0.4-r1.ebuild
index f3a2624367..f0fa15c0b7 100644
--- a/net-proxy/MTProxy/MTProxy-3.0.4-r1.ebuild
+++ b/net-proxy/MTProxy/MTProxy-3.0.4-r1.ebuild
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ KEYWORDS="~amd64"
 
 DEPEND="
 	dev-libs/openssl
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 "
 
 RDEPEND="${DEPEND}"
diff --git a/net-voip/baresip/baresip-3.23.0.ebuild b/net-voip/baresip/baresip-3.23.0.ebuild
index 366eee52de..ebbcd5c86e 100644
--- a/net-voip/baresip/baresip-3.23.0.ebuild
+++ b/net-voip/baresip/baresip-3.23.0.ebuild
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ RE_PVF="$(ver_cut 1-2)*"
 DEPEND="
 	dev-libs/openssl:0=
 	=net-voip/re-${RE_PVF}
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	aac? ( media-libs/fdk-aac )
 	alsa? ( media-libs/alsa-lib )
 	amr? ( media-libs/opencore-amr )
diff --git a/net-voip/baresip/baresip-3.24.0.ebuild b/net-voip/baresip/baresip-3.24.0.ebuild
index 366eee52de..ebbcd5c86e 100644
--- a/net-voip/baresip/baresip-3.24.0.ebuild
+++ b/net-voip/baresip/baresip-3.24.0.ebuild
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ RE_PVF="$(ver_cut 1-2)*"
 DEPEND="
 	dev-libs/openssl:0=
 	=net-voip/re-${RE_PVF}
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	aac? ( media-libs/fdk-aac )
 	alsa? ( media-libs/alsa-lib )
 	amr? ( media-libs/opencore-amr )
diff --git a/net-voip/baresip/baresip-4.2.0.ebuild b/net-voip/baresip/baresip-4.2.0.ebuild
index 366eee52de..ebbcd5c86e 100644
--- a/net-voip/baresip/baresip-4.2.0.ebuild
+++ b/net-voip/baresip/baresip-4.2.0.ebuild
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ RE_PVF="$(ver_cut 1-2)*"
 DEPEND="
 	dev-libs/openssl:0=
 	=net-voip/re-${RE_PVF}
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	aac? ( media-libs/fdk-aac )
 	alsa? ( media-libs/alsa-lib )
 	amr? ( media-libs/opencore-amr )
diff --git a/net-voip/re/re-3.23.0.ebuild b/net-voip/re/re-3.23.0.ebuild
index 3f35354092..3dfe3cf7ef 100644
--- a/net-voip/re/re-3.23.0.ebuild
+++ b/net-voip/re/re-3.23.0.ebuild
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ IUSE="static-libs"
 
 DEPEND="
 	dev-libs/openssl:0=
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	"
 
 RDEPEND="${DEPEND}"
diff --git a/net-voip/re/re-3.24.0.ebuild b/net-voip/re/re-3.24.0.ebuild
index 3f35354092..3dfe3cf7ef 100644
--- a/net-voip/re/re-3.24.0.ebuild
+++ b/net-voip/re/re-3.24.0.ebuild
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ IUSE="static-libs"
 
 DEPEND="
 	dev-libs/openssl:0=
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	"
 
 RDEPEND="${DEPEND}"
diff --git a/net-voip/re/re-4.2.0.ebuild b/net-voip/re/re-4.2.0.ebuild
index 3f35354092..3dfe3cf7ef 100644
--- a/net-voip/re/re-4.2.0.ebuild
+++ b/net-voip/re/re-4.2.0.ebuild
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ IUSE="static-libs"
 
 DEPEND="
 	dev-libs/openssl:0=
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	"
 
 RDEPEND="${DEPEND}"
diff --git a/net-vpn/vtun-embedded/vtun-embedded-3.0.6.ebuild b/net-vpn/vtun-embedded/vtun-embedded-3.0.6.ebuild
index 5ad9b04e82..a8da1e2418 100644
--- a/net-vpn/vtun-embedded/vtun-embedded-3.0.6.ebuild
+++ b/net-vpn/vtun-embedded/vtun-embedded-3.0.6.ebuild
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ RDEPEND="
 	lzo? ( dev-libs/lzo:2 )
 	socks5? ( net-proxy/dante )
 	ssl? ( dev-libs/openssl:0= )
-	zlib? ( virtual/zlib )
+	zlib? ( virtual/zlib:= )
 	dev-libs/libbsd"
 DEPEND="${RDEPEND}"
 BDEPEND="
diff --git a/sci-electronics/verilator/verilator-5.026-r1.ebuild b/sci-electronics/verilator/verilator-5.026-r1.ebuild
index 8c6b7e040e..ec54ecf856 100644
--- a/sci-electronics/verilator/verilator-5.026-r1.ebuild
+++ b/sci-electronics/verilator/verilator-5.026-r1.ebuild
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ REQUIRED_USE="${PYTHON_REQUIRED_USE}"
 RDEPEND="
 	${PYTHON_DEPS}
 	dev-lang/perl
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 "
 
 DEPEND="
diff --git a/sci-electronics/verilator/verilator-5.028-r1.ebuild b/sci-electronics/verilator/verilator-5.028-r1.ebuild
index 8c6b7e040e..ec54ecf856 100644
--- a/sci-electronics/verilator/verilator-5.028-r1.ebuild
+++ b/sci-electronics/verilator/verilator-5.028-r1.ebuild
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ REQUIRED_USE="${PYTHON_REQUIRED_USE}"
 RDEPEND="
 	${PYTHON_DEPS}
 	dev-lang/perl
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 "
 
 DEPEND="
diff --git a/sci-electronics/verilator/verilator-9999.ebuild b/sci-electronics/verilator/verilator-9999.ebuild
index 8c6b7e040e..ec54ecf856 100644
--- a/sci-electronics/verilator/verilator-9999.ebuild
+++ b/sci-electronics/verilator/verilator-9999.ebuild
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ REQUIRED_USE="${PYTHON_REQUIRED_USE}"
 RDEPEND="
 	${PYTHON_DEPS}
 	dev-lang/perl
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 "
 
 DEPEND="
diff --git a/sci-mathematics/rink/rink-0.8.0-r1.ebuild b/sci-mathematics/rink/rink-0.8.0-r1.ebuild
index b52a075224..d289332f6b 100644
--- a/sci-mathematics/rink/rink-0.8.0-r1.ebuild
+++ b/sci-mathematics/rink/rink-0.8.0-r1.ebuild
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ IUSE="doc"
 DEPEND+="
 	net-misc/curl
 	dev-libs/openssl
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 "
 RDEPEND+="net-misc/curl"
 
diff --git a/sci-mathematics/rink/rink-9999.ebuild b/sci-mathematics/rink/rink-9999.ebuild
index 4bb5dc33cb..3148ab9807 100644
--- a/sci-mathematics/rink/rink-9999.ebuild
+++ b/sci-mathematics/rink/rink-9999.ebuild
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ IUSE="doc"
 DEPEND+="
 	net-misc/curl
 	dev-libs/openssl
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 "
 BDEPEND+="dev-ruby/asciidoctor"
 RDEPEND+="net-misc/curl"
diff --git a/sys-apps/dnf5/dnf5-5.2.16.0.ebuild b/sys-apps/dnf5/dnf5-5.2.16.0.ebuild
index e7c0faf95a..9f5906edf1 100644
--- a/sys-apps/dnf5/dnf5-5.2.16.0.ebuild
+++ b/sys-apps/dnf5/dnf5-5.2.16.0.ebuild
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ RDEPEND="
 	dev-libs/libxml2
 	sys-apps/util-linux
 	>=sys-libs/libmodulemd-2.11.2
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	appstream? ( >=dev-libs/appstream-0.16:= )
 	python? ( ${PYTHON_DEPS} )
 	systemd? ( sys-apps/systemd:= )
diff --git a/sys-apps/dnf5/dnf5-5.2.17.0.ebuild b/sys-apps/dnf5/dnf5-5.2.17.0.ebuild
index e7c0faf95a..9f5906edf1 100644
--- a/sys-apps/dnf5/dnf5-5.2.17.0.ebuild
+++ b/sys-apps/dnf5/dnf5-5.2.17.0.ebuild
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ RDEPEND="
 	dev-libs/libxml2
 	sys-apps/util-linux
 	>=sys-libs/libmodulemd-2.11.2
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	appstream? ( >=dev-libs/appstream-0.16:= )
 	python? ( ${PYTHON_DEPS} )
 	systemd? ( sys-apps/systemd:= )
diff --git a/sys-devel/clang-bloomberg-p2996/clang-bloomberg-p2996-21.0.0_p20250702.ebuild b/sys-devel/clang-bloomberg-p2996/clang-bloomberg-p2996-21.0.0_p20250702.ebuild
index 13dbef43a2..990bb434e8 100644
--- a/sys-devel/clang-bloomberg-p2996/clang-bloomberg-p2996-21.0.0_p20250702.ebuild
+++ b/sys-devel/clang-bloomberg-p2996/clang-bloomberg-p2996-21.0.0_p20250702.ebuild
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ for target in ${ALL_LLVM_TARGETS}; do
 done
 
 # TODO
-RDEPEND="virtual/zlib:0="
+RDEPEND="virtual/zlib:="
 DEPEND="${RDEPEND}"
 
 PATCHES=(
diff --git a/sys-devel/clang-bloomberg-p2996/clang-bloomberg-p2996-9999.ebuild b/sys-devel/clang-bloomberg-p2996/clang-bloomberg-p2996-9999.ebuild
index 4e919c605a..932d2ff402 100644
--- a/sys-devel/clang-bloomberg-p2996/clang-bloomberg-p2996-9999.ebuild
+++ b/sys-devel/clang-bloomberg-p2996/clang-bloomberg-p2996-9999.ebuild
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ for target in ${ALL_LLVM_TARGETS}; do
 done
 
 # TODO
-RDEPEND="virtual/zlib:0="
+RDEPEND="virtual/zlib:="
 DEPEND="${RDEPEND}"
 
 PATCHES=(
diff --git a/sys-fs/dwarfs/dwarfs-0.12.4.ebuild b/sys-fs/dwarfs/dwarfs-0.12.4.ebuild
index 1d6a6be990..9a092a6893 100644
--- a/sys-fs/dwarfs/dwarfs-0.12.4.ebuild
+++ b/sys-fs/dwarfs/dwarfs-0.12.4.ebuild
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ RDEPEND="
 	fuse? ( sys-fs/fuse:3 )
 	sys-libs/binutils-libs
 	stacktrace? ( >=dev-cpp/cpptrace-0.8.0 )
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	jemalloc? ( >=dev-libs/jemalloc-5.3.0 )
 	test? ( >=dev-cpp/gtest-1.15.2 )
 	>=dev-cpp/range-v3-0.12.0
diff --git a/sys-fs/dwarfs/dwarfs-0.13.0.ebuild b/sys-fs/dwarfs/dwarfs-0.13.0.ebuild
index 2926b39d31..a496396ce7 100644
--- a/sys-fs/dwarfs/dwarfs-0.13.0.ebuild
+++ b/sys-fs/dwarfs/dwarfs-0.13.0.ebuild
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ RDEPEND="
 	fuse? ( sys-fs/fuse:3 )
 	sys-libs/binutils-libs
 	stacktrace? ( >=dev-cpp/cpptrace-1.0.2 )
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	jemalloc? ( >=dev-libs/jemalloc-5.3.0 )
 	test? ( >=dev-cpp/gtest-1.17.0 )
 	>=dev-cpp/range-v3-0.12.0
diff --git a/sys-fs/dwarfs/dwarfs-0.14.1.ebuild b/sys-fs/dwarfs/dwarfs-0.14.1.ebuild
index 0272d893f9..c6adf521bf 100644
--- a/sys-fs/dwarfs/dwarfs-0.14.1.ebuild
+++ b/sys-fs/dwarfs/dwarfs-0.14.1.ebuild
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ RDEPEND="
 	fuse? ( sys-fs/fuse:3 )
 	sys-libs/binutils-libs
 	stacktrace? ( >=dev-cpp/cpptrace-1.0.2 )
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	jemalloc? ( >=dev-libs/jemalloc-5.3.0 )
 	test? ( >=dev-cpp/gtest-1.17.0 )
 	>=dev-cpp/range-v3-0.12.0
diff --git a/sys-fs/gfs2-utils/gfs2-utils-3.4.1.ebuild b/sys-fs/gfs2-utils/gfs2-utils-3.4.1.ebuild
index 10a8a64694..8a6d5b1712 100644
--- a/sys-fs/gfs2-utils/gfs2-utils-3.4.1.ebuild
+++ b/sys-fs/gfs2-utils/gfs2-utils-3.4.1.ebuild
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ BDEPEND="dev-build/automake
 		dev-build/libtool
 		dev-build/make
 "
-RDEPEND="virtual/zlib
+RDEPEND="virtual/zlib:=
 		app-arch/bzip2
 		sys-libs/ncurses
 		sys-apps/util-linux
diff --git a/sys-fs/gfs2-utils/gfs2-utils-3.5.1-r1.ebuild b/sys-fs/gfs2-utils/gfs2-utils-3.5.1-r1.ebuild
index bd76a879f4..b1255cf407 100644
--- a/sys-fs/gfs2-utils/gfs2-utils-3.5.1-r1.ebuild
+++ b/sys-fs/gfs2-utils/gfs2-utils-3.5.1-r1.ebuild
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ BDEPEND="dev-build/automake
 		dev-build/libtool
 		dev-build/make
 "
-RDEPEND="virtual/zlib
+RDEPEND="virtual/zlib:=
 		app-arch/bzip2
 		sys-libs/ncurses
 		sys-apps/util-linux
diff --git a/sys-fs/ntfs2btrfs/ntfs2btrfs-20250616.ebuild b/sys-fs/ntfs2btrfs/ntfs2btrfs-20250616.ebuild
index b6446c4fb1..28346fe519 100644
--- a/sys-fs/ntfs2btrfs/ntfs2btrfs-20250616.ebuild
+++ b/sys-fs/ntfs2btrfs/ntfs2btrfs-20250616.ebuild
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ SLOT="0"
 IUSE="+zlib +lzo +zstd"
 
 DEPEND="dev-libs/libfmt
-	zlib? ( virtual/zlib )
+	zlib? ( virtual/zlib:= )
 	lzo? ( dev-libs/lzo )
 	zstd? ( app-arch/zstd )"
 RDEPEND="${DEPEND}"
diff --git a/www-apps/laminar/laminar-1.3-r1.ebuild b/www-apps/laminar/laminar-1.3-r1.ebuild
index def1199ed0..9c839c7364 100644
--- a/www-apps/laminar/laminar-1.3-r1.ebuild
+++ b/www-apps/laminar/laminar-1.3-r1.ebuild
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ RESTRICT="!test? ( test )"
 COMMON_DEPS="
 	dev-db/sqlite:3
 	dev-libs/capnproto
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 "
 
 DEPEND="
diff --git a/www-misc/libkiwix/libkiwix-14.0.0.ebuild b/www-misc/libkiwix/libkiwix-14.0.0.ebuild
index 4ac56958e8..aaac263b6a 100644
--- a/www-misc/libkiwix/libkiwix-14.0.0.ebuild
+++ b/www-misc/libkiwix/libkiwix-14.0.0.ebuild
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ COMMON_DEPEND="
 	dev-libs/xapian:=
 	net-libs/libmicrohttpd:=
 	net-misc/curl
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 "
 RDEPEND="
 	${COMMON_DEPEND}
diff --git a/www-servers/hinsightd/hinsightd-0.9.17.ebuild b/www-servers/hinsightd/hinsightd-0.9.17.ebuild
index c76c0917c1..75135ac6ca 100644
--- a/www-servers/hinsightd/hinsightd-0.9.17.ebuild
+++ b/www-servers/hinsightd/hinsightd-0.9.17.ebuild
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ RDEPEND="
 	acct-user/hinsightd
 	acct-group/hinsightd
 	sys-libs/liburing
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	virtual/libcrypt
 	ssl? ( dev-libs/openssl )
 	ffcall? ( dev-libs/ffcall )
diff --git a/www-servers/hinsightd/hinsightd-9999.ebuild b/www-servers/hinsightd/hinsightd-9999.ebuild
index c76c0917c1..75135ac6ca 100644
--- a/www-servers/hinsightd/hinsightd-9999.ebuild
+++ b/www-servers/hinsightd/hinsightd-9999.ebuild
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ RDEPEND="
 	acct-user/hinsightd
 	acct-group/hinsightd
 	sys-libs/liburing
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 	virtual/libcrypt
 	ssl? ( dev-libs/openssl )
 	ffcall? ( dev-libs/ffcall )
diff --git a/x11-misc/leftwm-theme/leftwm-theme-0.1.2.ebuild b/x11-misc/leftwm-theme/leftwm-theme-0.1.2.ebuild
index 7dd75dc083..c7a5d4b572 100644
--- a/x11-misc/leftwm-theme/leftwm-theme-0.1.2.ebuild
+++ b/x11-misc/leftwm-theme/leftwm-theme-0.1.2.ebuild
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ KEYWORDS="~amd64"
 
 DEPEND="
 	dev-libs/openssl
-	virtual/zlib
+	virtual/zlib:=
 "
 RDEPEND="
 	${DEPEND}