diff --git a/unittests/test_apiutils.py b/unittests/test_apiutils.py
index dc9623206bff50176ebb6b4c99d6755dab2f7752..857a78208c66573768fba00ff06b2ff39678a662 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 no_reference.datatype == db.INTEGER
+    assert no_reference.datatype is db.INTEGER
 
     # restore retrive_entity_with_id
     caosdb.apiutils.retrieve_entity_with_id = original_retrieve_entity_with_id