diff --git a/utils/spdx/src/main/kotlin/SpdxExpression.kt b/utils/spdx/src/main/kotlin/SpdxExpression.kt
index 0752da4652681..8ce617adcb6a5 100644
--- a/utils/spdx/src/main/kotlin/SpdxExpression.kt
+++ b/utils/spdx/src/main/kotlin/SpdxExpression.kt
@@ -336,7 +336,7 @@ class SpdxCompoundExpression(
         val expressionString = toString()
         val subExpressionString = subExpression.toString()
 
-        return validChoices().containsAll(subExpression.validChoices()) || subExpressionString in expressionString
+        return subExpressionString in expressionString || validChoices().containsAll(subExpression.validChoices())
     }
 
     override fun equals(other: Any?): Boolean {