diff --git a/client/verta/tests/unit_tests/pipeline/test_registered_pipeline.py b/client/verta/tests/unit_tests/pipeline/test_registered_pipeline.py
index 5d65617f92..6128e59913 100644
--- a/client/verta/tests/unit_tests/pipeline/test_registered_pipeline.py
+++ b/client/verta/tests/unit_tests/pipeline/test_registered_pipeline.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ def test_copy_graph(
     )
     copied_graph = pipeline.copy_graph()
     assert copied_graph.steps == graph.steps  # same steps
-    assert copied_graph != graph  # different objects
+    assert copied_graph is not graph  # different objects
 
 
 @given(pipeline_definition=mock_pipeline_definition())