diff --git a/src/numpy/ndarray.cpp b/src/numpy/ndarray.cpp
index 625c43b3..af09ecc3 100644
--- a/src/numpy/ndarray.cpp
+++ b/src/numpy/ndarray.cpp
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ python::object ndarray::get_base() const
 void ndarray::set_base(object const & base) 
 {
   Py_XDECREF(get_struct()->base);
-  if (base != object()) 
+  if (base.ptr())
   {
     Py_INCREF(base.ptr());
     get_struct()->base = base.ptr();