diff --git a/mininet/node.py b/mininet/node.py
index 142f2552f032c25832625c081214c758d338902e..c9485f27ce8ddad55c28ffa3308ebca01547fea6 100644
--- a/mininet/node.py
+++ b/mininet/node.py
@@ -1150,7 +1150,7 @@ def connected( self ):
     @staticmethod
     def patchOpts( intf ):
         "Return OVS patch port options (if any) for intf"
-        if type( intf ) is not OVSIntf:
+        if not isinstance( intf, OVSIntf ):
             # Ignore if it's not a patch link
             return ''
         intf1, intf2 = intf.link.intf1, intf.link.intf2