diff --git a/lib/core/option.py b/lib/core/option.py
index 39476b559..1739ad89f 100644
--- a/lib/core/option.py
+++ b/lib/core/option.py
@@ -1377,7 +1377,7 @@ def _cleanupOptions():
         if not any([char in conf.testFilter for char in ('.', ')', '(', ']', '[')]):
             conf.testFilter = conf.testFilter.replace('*', '.*')
 
-    if conf.timeSec not in kb.explicitSettings:
+    if "timeSec" not in kb.explicitSettings:
         if conf.tor:
             conf.timeSec = 2 * conf.timeSec
             kb.adjustTimeDelay = ADJUST_TIME_DELAY.DISABLE