diff --git a/engine/src/main/java/org/camunda/bpm/engine/impl/persistence/entity/VariableInstanceEntity.java b/engine/src/main/java/org/camunda/bpm/engine/impl/persistence/entity/VariableInstanceEntity.java
index 2188e75e1f2..a4168f3f8c8 100644
--- a/engine/src/main/java/org/camunda/bpm/engine/impl/persistence/entity/VariableInstanceEntity.java
+++ b/engine/src/main/java/org/camunda/bpm/engine/impl/persistence/entity/VariableInstanceEntity.java
@@ -310,7 +310,7 @@ public boolean variableWillChangeType(TypedValue newValue) {
     String currentTypeName = typedValueField.getTypeName();
     String newTypeName = getTypeName(newValue);
 
-    return !Objects.equals(currentTypeName, newTypeName);
+    return !currentTypeName.equals(newTypeName);
   }
 
   public String getTypeName(TypedValue value) {