diff --git a/wp-includes/functions.php b/wp-includes/functions.php
index 87df25ebf5..644e45e1fe 100644
--- a/wp-includes/functions.php
+++ b/wp-includes/functions.php
@@ -309,7 +309,7 @@ function update_option($option_name, $newvalue) {
 
 	// If the new and old values are the same, no need to update.
 	$oldvalue = get_option($option_name);
-	if ( $newvalue == $oldvalue ) {
+	if ( $newvalue === $oldvalue ) {
 		return false;
 	}