diff --git a/tools/inventory.pl b/tools/inventory.pl
index 96a6bdf5ca..934f121f90 100755
--- a/tools/inventory.pl
+++ b/tools/inventory.pl
@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@ if ( $compareinv2barcd ) {
         my $barcode = $item->{barcode};
         if( !$barcode ) {
             $item->{problems}->{no_barcode} = 1;
-        } elsif ( grep /^$barcode$/, @scanned_barcodes ) {
+        } elsif ( grep { $_ eq $barcode } @scanned_barcodes ) {
             next;
         } else {
             $item->{problems}->{not_scanned} = 1;