diff --git a/poi-ooxml/src/main/java/org/apache/poi/xssf/usermodel/XSSFCell.java b/poi-ooxml/src/main/java/org/apache/poi/xssf/usermodel/XSSFCell.java
index a9062ff7bf..af4c9d57a8 100644
--- a/poi-ooxml/src/main/java/org/apache/poi/xssf/usermodel/XSSFCell.java
+++ b/poi-ooxml/src/main/java/org/apache/poi/xssf/usermodel/XSSFCell.java
@@ -410,7 +410,7 @@ public final class XSSFCell extends CellBase {
             /* In an excel generated array formula, the formula property might be set, but the string is empty in related cells */
             if (f == null || f.getStringValue().isEmpty()) {
                 XSSFCell cell = getSheet().getFirstCellInArrayFormula(this);
-                if (cell != this) {
+                if (!equals(cell)) {
                     return cell.getCellFormula(fpb);
                 }
             }