diff --git a/lenskit/lenskit/pipeline/components.py b/lenskit/lenskit/pipeline/components.py
index 46cf08ee6..de7954703 100644
--- a/lenskit/lenskit/pipeline/components.py
+++ b/lenskit/lenskit/pipeline/components.py
@@ -169,9 +169,9 @@ def __init__(self, config: object | None = None, **kwargs: Any):
     def _config_class(cls, return_any: bool = False) -> type | None:
         hints = get_type_hints(cls)
         ct = hints.get("config", None)
-        if ct is None or ct == NoneType:
+        if ct == NoneType:
             return None
-        elif ct == Any:
+        elif ct is None or ct == Any:
             if return_any:
                 return ct
             else: