diff --git a/bin/scripts/name_parser/FontnameParser.py b/bin/scripts/name_parser/FontnameParser.py
index 2fca5ff91..db92bccb3 100644
--- a/bin/scripts/name_parser/FontnameParser.py
+++ b/bin/scripts/name_parser/FontnameParser.py
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ class FontnameParser:
         """Enable short styles in Family when (original) font name starts with prefix; enable CamelCase basename in (Typog.) Family"""
         # camelcase_name is boolean
         # prefix is either a string or False
-        if type(prefix) == str:
+        if prefix:
             prefix = self._basename.startswith(prefix)
         self.use_short_families = ( camelcase_name, prefix )
         return self
diff --git a/bin/scripts/name_parser/FontnameTools.py b/bin/scripts/name_parser/FontnameTools.py
index 121dae72a..f89143560 100644
--- a/bin/scripts/name_parser/FontnameTools.py
+++ b/bin/scripts/name_parser/FontnameTools.py
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ class FontnameTools:
         """Flatten list of (strings or lists of strings) to a blank-separated string"""
         all = []
         for thing in all_things:
-            if type(thing) == str:
+            if type(thing) is not list:
                 all.append(thing)
             else:
                 all += thing