diff --git a/cli/app/new.go b/cli/app/new.go
index cdb543550..67b69d09d 100644
--- a/cli/app/new.go
+++ b/cli/app/new.go
@@ -112,7 +112,11 @@ var AppNewCommand = &cobra.Command{
 				}
 			}
 
-			if len(recipeVersions) > 0 {
+			if recipeVersion != "" {
+				if _, err := recipe.EnsureVersion(recipeVersion); err != nil {
+					log.Fatal(err)
+				}
+			} else if len(recipeVersions) > 0 {
 				latest := recipeVersions[len(recipeVersions)-1]
 				for tag := range latest {
 					recipeVersion = tag
diff --git a/tests/integration/app_new.bats b/tests/integration/app_new.bats
index c7721c3af..4ef94aacb 100644
--- a/tests/integration/app_new.bats
+++ b/tests/integration/app_new.bats
@@ -61,6 +61,16 @@ teardown(){
   run grep -q "TYPE=$TEST_RECIPE:0.3.0+1.21.0" \
     "$ABRA_DIR/servers/$TEST_SERVER/$TEST_APP_DOMAIN.env"
   assert_success
+
+  # 0.3.0-only
+  run grep -q "NETWORK_WITH_COMMENT=BAZ" \
+    "$ABRA_DIR/servers/$TEST_SERVER/$TEST_APP_DOMAIN.env"
+  assert_success
+
+  # latest-only
+  run grep -q "TIMEOUT=120" \
+    "$ABRA_DIR/servers/$TEST_SERVER/$TEST_APP_DOMAIN.env"
+  assert_failure
 }
 
 @test "ensure recipe is up-to-date" {
@@ -100,6 +110,16 @@ teardown(){
   run grep -q "TYPE=$TEST_RECIPE:${tagHash}" \
     "$ABRA_DIR/servers/$TEST_SERVER/$TEST_APP_DOMAIN.env"
   assert_success
+
+  # 0.3.0-only
+  run grep -q "NETWORK_WITH_COMMENT=BAZ" \
+    "$ABRA_DIR/servers/$TEST_SERVER/$TEST_APP_DOMAIN.env"
+  assert_success
+
+  # latest-only
+  run grep -q "TIMEOUT=120" \
+    "$ABRA_DIR/servers/$TEST_SERVER/$TEST_APP_DOMAIN.env"
+  assert_failure
 }
 
 @test "does not overwrite existing env files" {