diff --git a/common.c b/common.c
index 1ec8cee..936b840 100644
--- a/common.c
+++ b/common.c
@@ -705,9 +705,9 @@ config_item_set_from (struct config_item_ *self, struct config_item_ *source,
 		return false;
 
 	// Make sure the string subtype fits the schema
-	if (config_item_type_is_string (self->type)
-	 && config_item_type_is_string (source->type))
-		source->type = self->type;
+	if (config_item_type_is_string (source->type)
+	 && config_item_type_is_string (schema->type))
+		source->type = schema->type;
 
 	config_item_move (self, source);