diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/spot/server/SpotSceneManager.java b/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/spot/server/SpotSceneManager.java
index 9b968d72..e331ec20 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/spot/server/SpotSceneManager.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/spot/server/SpotSceneManager.java
@@ -315,7 +315,7 @@ public class SpotSceneManager extends SceneManager
 
         // make sure we're in the same scene as said user
         BodyObject friend = (BodyObject)tobj;
-        if (friend.location != joiner.location) {
+        if (!friend.location.equals(joiner.location)) {
             Log.info("Refusing cluster join from non-proximate user [joiner=" + joiner.who() +
                      ", jloc=" + joiner.location + ", target=" + friend.who() +
                      ", tloc=" + friend.location + "].");