diff --git a/pytools/__init__.py b/pytools/__init__.py
index 44b3752d204fa8e39a8e49453fd4234add2e3109..52ce55500ea96606b281d6ebde3d4a0cc2e0904e 100644
--- a/pytools/__init__.py
+++ b/pytools/__init__.py
@@ -1578,7 +1578,7 @@ class Table:
         import io
 
         # Default is '\r\n'
-        if not 'lineterminator' in fmtparams:
+        if 'lineterminator' not in fmtparams:
             fmtparams['lineterminator'] = '\n'
 
         output = io.StringIO()