diff --git a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/ComponentHelper.java b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/ComponentHelper.java
index 490b25e62..f7790459c 100644
--- a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/ComponentHelper.java
+++ b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/ComponentHelper.java
@@ -583,7 +583,7 @@ public class ComponentHelper  {
     private boolean sameDefinition(
         AntTypeDefinition def, AntTypeDefinition old) {
         boolean defValid = validDefinition(def);
-        boolean sameValidity = !(defValid ^ validDefinition(old));
+        boolean sameValidity = defValid ^ !validDefinition(old);
         return sameValidity && (!defValid || def.sameDefinition(old, project));
     }