diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/server/CrowdObjectAccess.java b/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/server/CrowdObjectAccess.java
index b2a39826c..ab8291827 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/server/CrowdObjectAccess.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/server/CrowdObjectAccess.java
@@ -46,8 +46,8 @@ public class CrowdObjectAccess
         // documentation inherited from interface
         public boolean allowSubscribe (DObject object, Subscriber<?> sub)
         {
-            if (ProxySubscriber.class.isInstance(sub)) {
-                ClientObject co = ProxySubscriber.class.cast(sub).getClientObject();
+            if (sub instanceof ProxySubscriber) {
+                ClientObject co = ((ProxySubscriber)sub).getClientObject();
                 return ((PlaceObject)object).occupants.contains(co.getOid());
             }
             return true;
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/presents/server/PresentsObjectAccess.java b/src/java/com/threerings/presents/server/PresentsObjectAccess.java
index 883e83ab0..9b533fa0b 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/presents/server/PresentsObjectAccess.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/presents/server/PresentsObjectAccess.java
@@ -74,8 +74,8 @@ public class PresentsObjectAccess
         public boolean allowSubscribe (DObject object, Subscriber<?> sub)
         {
             // if the subscriber is a client, ensure that they are this same user
-            if (ProxySubscriber.class.isInstance(sub)) {
-                ClientObject clobj = ProxySubscriber.class.cast(sub).getClientObject();
+            if (sub instanceof ProxySubscriber) {
+                ClientObject clobj = ((ProxySubscriber)sub).getClientObject();
                 if (clobj != object) {
                     log.warning("Refusing ClientObject subscription request",
                                 "obj", ((ClientObject)object).who(), "sub", clobj.who());