diff --git a/Lib/locale.py b/Lib/locale.py
index 7a03722a3a7..d26560d69d7 100644
--- a/Lib/locale.py
+++ b/Lib/locale.py
@@ -69,8 +69,7 @@ def setlocale(category, value=None):
         """ setlocale(integer,string=None) -> string.
             Activates/queries locale processing.
         """
-        if value is not None and \
-           value is not 'C':
+        if value is not None and value != 'C':
             raise Error, '_locale emulation only supports "C" locale'
         return 'C'