diff --git a/src/registrar/models/user.py b/src/registrar/models/user.py
index 0a153b5c8..ec2d06c70 100644
--- a/src/registrar/models/user.py
+++ b/src/registrar/models/user.py
@@ -91,7 +91,8 @@ class User(AbstractUser):
 
         # A new incoming user who is being invited to be a domain manager (that is,
         # their email address is in DomainInvitation for an invitation that is not yet "retrieved").
-        if DomainInvitation.objects.filter(email=email, status=DomainInvitation.INVITED).exists():
+        invited = DomainInvitation.DomainInvitationStatus.INVITED
+        if DomainInvitation.objects.filter(email=email, status=invited).exists():
             return False
 
         return True