diff --git a/lib/galaxy/util/path/__init__.py b/lib/galaxy/util/path/__init__.py
index 92e8d228980..1ed4896e88c 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/util/path/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy/util/path/__init__.py
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ def __path_permission_for_user(path: GenericPath, username: str) -> bool:
     other_permissions = int(oct_mode[-1])
     if (
         other_permissions >= 4
-        or (file_owner == username and owner_permissions >= 4)
+        or (file_owner.pw_name == username and owner_permissions >= 4)
         or (username in group_members and group_permissions >= 4)
     ):
         return True
diff --git a/mypy.ini b/mypy.ini
index e04dffe2c5a..5797bdaa82c 100644
--- a/mypy.ini
+++ b/mypy.ini
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ exclude = lib/galaxy/tools/bundled|test/functional
 pretty = True
 no_implicit_reexport = True
 no_implicit_optional = True
+strict_equality = True
 
 # green list - work on growing these please!
 [mypy-galaxy.util.compression_utils]