diff --git a/unittests/test_apiutils.py b/unittests/test_apiutils.py
index 3718e65876af1b8f40391832d34def048c40c8f8..dc9623206bff50176ebb6b4c99d6755dab2f7752 100644
--- a/unittests/test_apiutils.py
+++ b/unittests/test_apiutils.py
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ def test_resolve_reference():
     no_reference= db.Property(id=5000, datatype=db.INTEGER, value=2)
     resolve_reference(no_reference)
     assert no_reference.value == 2
-    assert isinstance(no_reference.datatype, db.INTEGER)
+    assert no_reference.datatype == db.INTEGER
 
     # restore retrive_entity_with_id
     caosdb.apiutils.retrieve_entity_with_id = original_retrieve_entity_with_id