diff --git a/mod/forum/lib.php b/mod/forum/lib.php
index 26f06c0fd41..eb63eecfcaf 100644
--- a/mod/forum/lib.php
+++ b/mod/forum/lib.php
@@ -4412,7 +4412,7 @@ function forum_delete_post($post, $children, $course, $cm, $forum, $skipcompleti
 
     $context = get_context_instance(CONTEXT_MODULE, $cm->id);
 
-    if ($children != 'ignore' && ($childposts = $DB->get_records('forum_posts', array('parent'=>$post->id)))) {
+    if ($children !== 'ignore' && ($childposts = $DB->get_records('forum_posts', array('parent'=>$post->id)))) {
        if ($children) {
            foreach ($childposts as $childpost) {
                forum_delete_post($childpost, true, $course, $cm, $forum, $skipcompletion);