diff --git a/deploy.py b/deploy.py
index ad7b283bf002b68ee2ff86d8650d0e6c6269f238..e0d3cbdae8aae05caa5ef1db2331a3d17f3976f3 100755
--- a/deploy.py
+++ b/deploy.py
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
     ## for everything installed, but ensure we have the leading v as well where needed
     version = '{}'.format(args.version)
     vversion = '{}'.format(args.version)
-    if version[0] is 'v':
+    if version[0] == 'v':
         version = version[1:]
     if vversion[0].isdigit():
         vversion= 'v{}'.format(args.version)