diff --git a/system/database/DB_query_builder.php b/system/database/DB_query_builder.php
index c75a469..69dc8c2 100644
--- a/system/database/DB_query_builder.php
+++ b/system/database/DB_query_builder.php
@@ -665,7 +665,7 @@
 			{
 				$operator = trim($this->_get_operator($k));
 
-				if ($operator == '<>' OR $operator == '!=')
+				if ($operator === '<>' OR $operator === '!=')
 				{
 					$k = str_replace($operator, ' IS NOT NULL', $k);
 				}