diff --git a/balsam/client/requests_client.py b/balsam/client/requests_client.py
index 5e918328..2be7cca6 100644
--- a/balsam/client/requests_client.py
+++ b/balsam/client/requests_client.py
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ def request(
                 logger.warning(f"Attempt retry ({self._attempt} of {self.retry_count}) of connection: {exc}")
                 self.backoff(exc)
             except requests.HTTPError as exc:
-                if authenticating == False:
+                if authenticating is False:
                     logger.warning(f"Attempt retry ({self._attempt} of {self.retry_count}) of connection: {exc}")
                     self.backoff(exc)
             else: