diff --git a/fail2ban/server/actions.py b/fail2ban/server/actions.py
index 95161290..b925ecee 100644
--- a/fail2ban/server/actions.py
+++ b/fail2ban/server/actions.py
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ class Actions(JailThread, Mapping):
 			True if an IP address get banned.
 		"""
 		ticket = self._jail.getFailTicket()
-		if ticket != False:
+		if ticket:
 			aInfo = CallingMap()
 			bTicket = BanManager.createBanTicket(ticket)
 			ip = bTicket.getIP()
diff --git a/fail2ban/tests/failmanagertestcase.py b/fail2ban/tests/failmanagertestcase.py
index 1f99d161..659a323d 100644
--- a/fail2ban/tests/failmanagertestcase.py
+++ b/fail2ban/tests/failmanagertestcase.py
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ class AddFailure(unittest.TestCase):
 		self.assertEqual(
 			ticket_repr,
 			'FailTicket: ip=193.168.0.128 time=1167605999.0 #attempts=5 matches=[]')
-		self.assertFalse(ticket == False)
+		self.assertFalse(not ticket)
 		# and some get/set-ers otherwise not tested
 		ticket.setTime(1000002000.0)
 		self.assertEqual(ticket.getTime(), 1000002000.0)