diff --git a/openmc/include/executioners/OpenMCExecutioner.h b/openmc/include/executioners/OpenMCExecutioner.h
index 34cb1694..47178577 100644
--- a/openmc/include/executioners/OpenMCExecutioner.h
+++ b/openmc/include/executioners/OpenMCExecutioner.h
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ class OpenMCExecutioner : public Transient
     /// Number of filter bins
     size_t nbins;
     /// Type of filter
-    std::string type;
+    openmc::FilterType type;
   };
 
   /// \brief Helper struct to store information about OpenMC scores
diff --git a/openmc/src/executioners/OpenMCExecutioner.C b/openmc/src/executioners/OpenMCExecutioner.C
index b1766ee7..b80de08d 100644
--- a/openmc/src/executioners/OpenMCExecutioner.C
+++ b/openmc/src/executioners/OpenMCExecutioner.C
@@ -742,7 +742,7 @@ OpenMCExecutioner::setFilterInfo(openmc::Tally& tally,
       firstFilter=f_info.id;
     }
 
-    if(f_info.type=="mesh"){
+    if(f_info.type==openmc::FilterType::MESH){
       if(meshFilter ==-1) meshFilter = f_info.id;
       else{
         openmc::set_errmsg("Found more than one mesh filter");