diff --git a/panda/src/gobj/qpgeomPrimitive.cxx b/panda/src/gobj/qpgeomPrimitive.cxx
index 1c51c863b8..61c6048c03 100644
--- a/panda/src/gobj/qpgeomPrimitive.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/gobj/qpgeomPrimitive.cxx
@@ -376,7 +376,7 @@ decompose() {
   }
 
   result = decompose_impl();
-  if (result == this) {
+  if (result.p() == this) {
     // decomposing this primitive has no effect.
     return this;
   }