diff --git a/devito/data/decomposition.py b/devito/data/decomposition.py
index 40b92667e1..9a44927c45 100644
--- a/devito/data/decomposition.py
+++ b/devito/data/decomposition.py
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ def index_glb_to_loc(self, *args, rel=True):
         glb_min = 0
         glb_max = self.glb_max - self.glb_min
 
-        base = loc_abs_min if rel is True else 0
+        base = loc_abs_min if rel else 0
         top = loc_abs_max
 
         if len(args) == 1:
diff --git a/devito/mpi/distributed.py b/devito/mpi/distributed.py
index 85253fd880..1fc587367e 100644
--- a/devito/mpi/distributed.py
+++ b/devito/mpi/distributed.py
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ def glb_to_loc(self, dim, *args, strict=True):
             among the Distributor Dimensions.
         """
         if dim not in self.dimensions:
-            if strict is True:
+            if strict:
                 raise ValueError("`%s` must be one of the Distributor dimensions" % dim)
             else:
                 return args[0]