diff --git a/evennia/typeclasses/managers.py b/evennia/typeclasses/managers.py
index 358066e3f1..e6ef778eb8 100644
--- a/evennia/typeclasses/managers.py
+++ b/evennia/typeclasses/managers.py
@@ -65,8 +65,8 @@ class TypedObjectManager(idmapper.manager.SharedMemoryManager):
             query.append(("attribute__db_category", category))
         if strvalue:
             query.append(("attribute__db_strvalue", strvalue))
-        elif value:
-            # strvalue and value are mutually exclusive
+        if value:
+            # no reason to make strvalue/value mutually exclusive at this level
             query.append(("attribute__db_value", value))
         return Attribute.objects.filter(
             pk__in=self.model.db_attributes.through.objects.filter(