diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/artist.py b/lib/matplotlib/artist.py
index 41437f6e52eb..bf36380dea7f 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/artist.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/artist.py
@@ -437,7 +437,7 @@ def pick(self, mouseevent):
         # Pick self
         if self.pickable():
             picker = self.get_picker()
-            if picker is not None:
+            if callable(picker):
                 inside, prop = picker(self, mouseevent)
             else:
                 inside, prop = self.contains(mouseevent)