diff --git a/src/binding/python/openpmd_api/pipe/__main__.py b/src/binding/python/openpmd_api/pipe/__main__.py
index 7d6de7db06..08fa6f1b99 100644
--- a/src/binding/python/openpmd_api/pipe/__main__.py
+++ b/src/binding/python/openpmd_api/pipe/__main__.py
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ def __copy(self, src, dest, current_path="/data/"):
         Copies data from src to dest. May represent any point in the openPMD
         hierarchy, but src and dest must both represent the same layer.
         """
-        if (type(src) != type(dest)
+        if (type(src) is not type(dest)
                 and not isinstance(src, io.IndexedIteration)
                 and not isinstance(dest, io.Iteration)):
             raise RuntimeError(