diff --git a/lib/authenticator.js b/lib/authenticator.js
index 98e663c7..83267c08 100644
--- a/lib/authenticator.js
+++ b/lib/authenticator.js
@@ -352,7 +352,7 @@ Authenticator.prototype.deserializeUser = function(fn, req, done) {
     if (err || user) { return done(err, user); }
     // a valid user existed when establishing the session, but that user has
     // since been removed
-    if (user === null || user === false) { return done(null, false); }
+    if (user == null || user === false) { return done(null, false); }
     
     var layer = stack[i];
     if (!layer) {