diff --git a/clippy_lints/src/ref_option_ref.rs b/clippy_lints/src/ref_option_ref.rs
index 902cd06f5279..4ab2d8025e08 100644
--- a/clippy_lints/src/ref_option_ref.rs
+++ b/clippy_lints/src/ref_option_ref.rs
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ impl<'tcx> LateLintPass<'tcx> for RefOptionRef {
             if let Some(res) = last.res;
             if let Some(def_id) = res.opt_def_id();
 
-            if match_def_path(cx, def_id, &paths::OPTION);
+            if cx.tcx.is_diagnostic_item(sym!(option_type), def_id);
             if let Some(ref params) = last_path_segment(qpath).args ;
             if !params.parenthesized;
             if let Some(inner_ty) = params.args.iter().find_map(|arg| match arg {