diff --git a/src/HH4b/processors/bbbbSkimmer.py b/src/HH4b/processors/bbbbSkimmer.py
index e054e3d0..b5ed14dd 100644
--- a/src/HH4b/processors/bbbbSkimmer.py
+++ b/src/HH4b/processors/bbbbSkimmer.py
@@ -843,7 +843,7 @@ def process(self, events: ak.Array):
 
         # apply trigger
         apply_trigger = True
-        if (~is_run3) and (~isData) and self._region == "signal":
+        if (not is_run3) and (not isData) and self._region == "signal":
             # in run2 we do not apply the trigger to MC
             apply_trigger = False
         if apply_trigger: