diff --git a/tools/idf_tools.py b/tools/idf_tools.py
index 2922f1845c..7de48137d0 100755
--- a/tools/idf_tools.py
+++ b/tools/idf_tools.py
@@ -1089,17 +1089,37 @@ class IDFTool(object):
 
     def get_preferred_installed_version(self) -> Optional[str]:
         """
-        Get the preferred installed version of the tool. If more versions installed, return the highest.
+        Get the preferred installed version of the tool.
+        If more versions installed, return recommended version if exists, otherwise return the highest supported version
         """
-        recommended_versions = [
+
+        try:
+            self.find_installed_versions()
+        except ToolBinaryError:
+            pass
+
+        if self.get_recommended_version() in self.versions_installed:
+            return self.get_recommended_version()
+
+        supported_installed_versions = [
             k
             for k in self.versions_installed
-            if self.versions[k].status == IDFToolVersion.STATUS_RECOMMENDED
+            if self.versions[k].status == IDFToolVersion.STATUS_SUPPORTED
             and self.versions[k].compatible_with_platform(self._platform)
         ]
-        assert len(recommended_versions) <= 1
-        if recommended_versions:
-            return recommended_versions[0]
+        sorted_supported_installed_versions = sorted(
+            supported_installed_versions, key=lambda x: self.versions[x], reverse=True
+        )
+        if sorted_supported_installed_versions:
+            warn(
+                ''.join(
+                    [
+                        f'Using supported version {sorted_supported_installed_versions[0]} for tool {self.name} ',
+                        f'as recommended version {self.get_recommended_version()} is not installed.',
+                    ]
+                )
+            )
+            return sorted_supported_installed_versions[0]
         return None
 
     def find_installed_versions(self) -> None:
@@ -1152,8 +1172,7 @@ class IDFTool(object):
             else:
                 if ver_str != version:
                     warn(f'tool {self.name} version {version} is installed, but has reported version {ver_str}')
-                else:
-                    self.versions_installed.append(version)
+                self.versions_installed.append(version)
         if tool_error:
             raise ToolBinaryError
 
@@ -1900,6 +1919,9 @@ def expand_tools_arg(tools_spec: List[str], overall_tools: OrderedDict, targets:
 
     # Filtering by ESP_targets
     tools = [k for k in tools if overall_tools[k].is_supported_for_any_of_targets(targets)]
+
+    # Processing specific version of tool - defined with '@'
+    tools.extend([tool_pattern for tool_pattern in tools_spec if '@' in tool_pattern])
     return tools
 
 
@@ -2250,10 +2272,6 @@ def process_tool(
     tool_export_paths: List[str] = []
     tool_export_vars: Dict[str, str] = {}
 
-    try:
-        tool.find_installed_versions()
-    except ToolBinaryError:
-        pass
     recommended_version_to_use = tool.get_preferred_installed_version()
 
     if not tool.is_executable and recommended_version_to_use: