diff --git a/src/main/java/org/opensearch/security/user/User.java b/src/main/java/org/opensearch/security/user/User.java
index 12d916354d..6abba3d734 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/opensearch/security/user/User.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/opensearch/security/user/User.java
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ public final boolean equals(final Object obj) {
         if (obj == null) {
             return false;
         }
-        if (!(User.class.isAssignableFrom(getClass()) && User.class.isAssignableFrom(obj.getClass()))) {
+        if (!(obj instanceof User)) {
             return false;
         }
         final User other = (User) obj;