diff --git a/octodns/zone.py b/octodns/zone.py
index f93b373..ea60f72 100644
--- a/octodns/zone.py
+++ b/octodns/zone.py
@@ -73,19 +73,26 @@ class Zone(object):
 
         name = record.name
 
-        if not lenient and any((name.endswith(sz) for sz in self.sub_zones)):
-            if name not in self.sub_zones:
-                # it's a record for something under a sub-zone
-                raise SubzoneRecordException(
-                    f'Record {record.fqdn} is under ' 'a managed subzone'
-                )
-            elif record._type != 'NS':
-                # It's a non NS record for exactly a sub-zone
-                raise SubzoneRecordException(
-                    f'Record {record.fqdn} a '
-                    'managed sub-zone and not of '
-                    'type NS'
-                )
+        if not lenient:
+            if name in self.sub_zones:
+                # It's an exact match for a sub-zone
+                if not record._type == 'NS':
+                    # and not a NS record, this should be in the sub
+                    raise SubzoneRecordException(
+                        f'Record {record.fqdn} a '
+                        'managed sub-zone and not of '
+                        'type NS'
+                    )
+            else:
+                # It's not an exact match so there has to be a `.` before the
+                # sub-zone for it to belong in there
+                for sub_zone in self.sub_zones:
+                    if name.endswith(f'.{sub_zone}'):
+                        # this should be in a sub
+                        raise SubzoneRecordException(
+                            f'Record {record.fqdn} is under '
+                            'a managed subzone'
+                        )
 
         if replace:
             # will remove it if it exists
diff --git a/tests/test_octodns_zone.py b/tests/test_octodns_zone.py
index b884397..37e893f 100644
--- a/tests/test_octodns_zone.py
+++ b/tests/test_octodns_zone.py
@@ -208,6 +208,16 @@ class TestZone(TestCase):
         zone.add_record(record, lenient=True)
         self.assertEqual(set([record]), zone.records)
 
+        # A that happens to end with a string that matches a sub (no .) is OK
+        zone = Zone('unit.tests.', set(['sub', 'barred']))
+        record = Record.new(
+            zone,
+            'foo.bar_sub',
+            {'ttl': 3600, 'type': 'A', 'values': ['1.2.3.4', '2.3.4.5']},
+        )
+        zone.add_record(record)
+        self.assertEqual(1, len(zone.records))
+
     def test_ignored_records(self):
         zone_normal = Zone('unit.tests.', [])
         zone_ignored = Zone('unit.tests.', [])