diff --git a/roles/ensure-python/tasks/main.yaml b/roles/ensure-python/tasks/main.yaml
index bf958d436..c68297ed7 100644
--- a/roles/ensure-python/tasks/main.yaml
+++ b/roles/ensure-python/tasks/main.yaml
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
             rpm_python_pkg_name: python3-devel
           when:
             - ansible_distribution_major_version == '9'
-            - python_version == '3.9'
+            - python_version|string == '3.9'
         - name: Install RPM package
           package:
             name: "{{ rpm_python_pkg_name }}"