diff --git a/beat/backend/python/algorithm.py b/beat/backend/python/algorithm.py
index e2ca8f6ce0c208bbe7726048c80e0b61cf8b9b69..6d6078f64d623a884fa710f5caa713a7eb6b1137 100755
--- a/beat/backend/python/algorithm.py
+++ b/beat/backend/python/algorithm.py
@@ -857,12 +857,9 @@ class Algorithm(object):
         if not self.valid:
             raise RuntimeError("algorithm is not valid")
 
-        if isinstance(prefix, six.string_types):
-            prefix = utils.Prefix(prefix)
-
-        if prefix.paths[0] in self.prefix.paths:
-            raise RuntimeError("Cannot export algorithm to the same prefix (%s in " \
-                    "%s)" % (prefix.paths[0], self.prefix.paths))
+        if prefix == self.prefix:
+            raise RuntimeError("Cannot export algorithm to the same prefix ("
+                               "%s)" % prefix)
 
         for k in self.libraries.values():
             k.export(prefix)