diff --git a/lib/pangea/learning_settings/pages/settings_learning_view.dart b/lib/pangea/learning_settings/pages/settings_learning_view.dart
index 615e8c873..76aae6e65 100644
--- a/lib/pangea/learning_settings/pages/settings_learning_view.dart
+++ b/lib/pangea/learning_settings/pages/settings_learning_view.dart
@@ -73,8 +73,9 @@ class SettingsLearningView extends StatelessWidget {
                                 isL2List: false,
                                 decorationText: L10n.of(context).myBaseLanguage,
                                 validator: (lang) {
-                                  if (lang ==
-                                      controller.selectedTargetLanguage) {
+                                  if (lang?.langCodeShort ==
+                                      controller.selectedTargetLanguage
+                                          ?.langCodeShort) {
                                     return L10n.of(context)
                                         .noIdenticalLanguages;
                                   }
@@ -93,8 +94,9 @@ class SettingsLearningView extends StatelessWidget {
                                 isL2List: true,
                                 decorationText: L10n.of(context).iWantToLearn,
                                 validator: (lang) {
-                                  if (lang ==
-                                      controller.selectedSourceLanguage) {
+                                  if (lang?.langCodeShort ==
+                                      controller.selectedSourceLanguage
+                                          ?.langCodeShort) {
                                     return L10n.of(context)
                                         .noIdenticalLanguages;
                                   }