diff --git a/python/semanage/seobject.py b/python/semanage/seobject.py
index 361205d11..cc944ae20 100644
--- a/python/semanage/seobject.py
+++ b/python/semanage/seobject.py
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ def __init__(self, args = None):
         global handle
         if args:
             # legacy code - args was store originally
-            if type(args) == str:
+            if isinstance(args, str):
                 self.store = args
             else:
                 self.args = args