diff --git a/server/vcr-server/agent_webhooks/utils/credential.py b/server/vcr-server/agent_webhooks/utils/credential.py
index 669eee1c1..7dbb1ee89 100644
--- a/server/vcr-server/agent_webhooks/utils/credential.py
+++ b/server/vcr-server/agent_webhooks/utils/credential.py
@@ -677,10 +677,10 @@ def create_search_models(
                 model.format = "category"
 
             # skip blank in names and attributes
-            if model_name == "name" and (model.text is None or model.text is ""):
+            if model_name == "name" and (model.text is None or model.text == ""):
                 continue
             if (model_name == "category" or model_name == "attribute") and (
-                not model.type or model.value is None or model.value is ""
+                not model.type or model.value is None or model.value == ""
             ):
                 continue
 
diff --git a/server/vcr-server/api/v2/search/filters.py b/server/vcr-server/api/v2/search/filters.py
index 54078befd..a89f23548 100644
--- a/server/vcr-server/api/v2/search/filters.py
+++ b/server/vcr-server/api/v2/search/filters.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ def query_words(self, *parts):
     def prepare(self, query_obj):
         # clean input
         query_string = super(Proximate, self).prepare(query_obj)
-        if query_string is not "":
+        if query_string != "":
             # match phrase with minimal word movements
             proximity = self.kwargs.get("proximity", 5)
             parts = query_string.split(" ")
diff --git a/server/vcr-server/api/v3/search_filters.py b/server/vcr-server/api/v3/search_filters.py
index 2467515a9..49fa72d2c 100644
--- a/server/vcr-server/api/v3/search_filters.py
+++ b/server/vcr-server/api/v3/search_filters.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ def query_words(self, *parts):
     def prepare(self, query_obj):
         # clean input
         query_string = super(Proximate, self).prepare(query_obj)
-        if query_string is not "":
+        if query_string != "":
             # match phrase with minimal word movements
             proximity = self.kwargs.get("proximity", 5)
             parts = query_string.split(" ")