diff --git a/tools/check_recipe.R b/tools/check_recipe.R
index 964c44462ebd98295627315689ea9249903130b1..1853a8be985d453051de57469478184d460de676 100644
--- a/tools/check_recipe.R
+++ b/tools/check_recipe.R
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ check_recipe <- function(recipe) {
   }
   ## TODO: Is this needed?
   if (is.null(recipe$Analysis$Time$fcst_year) || 
-      tolower(recipe$Analysis$Time$fcst_year) == 'none') {
+      identical(tolower(recipe$Analysis$Time$fcst_year), 'none')) {
     stream <- "hindcast"
     # recipe$Analysis$Time$fcst_year <- 'YYYY'
   } else {