diff --git a/islpy/__init__.py b/islpy/__init__.py
index cf329508a4f26be4327e028aedd022be77f710c3..f1d3a75fbea8a16a2944d4b40d492ea8217645e0 100644
--- a/islpy/__init__.py
+++ b/islpy/__init__.py
@@ -817,7 +817,10 @@ def align_spaces(obj, tgt, obj_bigger_ok=False, across_dim_types=False):
         has more dimensions than *tgt*.
     """
 
-    have_any_param_domains = obj.is_params() or tgt.is_params()
+    have_any_param_domains = (
+            isinstance(obj, (Set, BasicSet))
+            and isinstance(tgt, (Set, BasicSet))
+            and (obj.is_params() or tgt.is_params()))
     if have_any_param_domains:
         if obj.is_params():
             obj = type(obj).from_params(obj)