diff --git a/python/drydock_provisioner/ingester/ingester.py b/python/drydock_provisioner/ingester/ingester.py
index b64b6a41..34b4aa24 100644
--- a/python/drydock_provisioner/ingester/ingester.py
+++ b/python/drydock_provisioner/ingester/ingester.py
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ class Ingester(object):
             raise ValueError("Invalid design_state handler")
 
         # If no design_id is specified, instantiate a new one
-        if 'design_ref' is None:
+        if design_ref is None:
             self.logger.error(
                 "Ingester:ingest_data required kwarg 'design_ref' missing")
             raise ValueError(
diff --git a/python/drydock_provisioner/orchestrator/validations/ip_locality_check.py b/python/drydock_provisioner/orchestrator/validations/ip_locality_check.py
index 5b1d238f..3df4f0ef 100644
--- a/python/drydock_provisioner/orchestrator/validations/ip_locality_check.py
+++ b/python/drydock_provisioner/orchestrator/validations/ip_locality_check.py
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ class IpLocalityCheck(Validators):
                     address = ip_address.address
                     ip_type = ip_address.type
 
-                    if ip_type is not 'dhcp':
+                    if ip_type != 'dhcp':
                         if ip_address_network_name not in network_dict:
                             msg = '%s is not a valid network.' \
                                   % (ip_address_network_name)