diff --git a/openbis/source/java/ch/systemsx/cisd/openbis/plugin/generic/server/SampleRegisterOrUpdateUtil.java b/openbis/source/java/ch/systemsx/cisd/openbis/plugin/generic/server/SampleRegisterOrUpdateUtil.java
index 8b44fc1f21290b6517e10a4abc4326ea0dc19539..488f0d927e3acb6a666901babc4ac8ab1a00e501 100644
--- a/openbis/source/java/ch/systemsx/cisd/openbis/plugin/generic/server/SampleRegisterOrUpdateUtil.java
+++ b/openbis/source/java/ch/systemsx/cisd/openbis/plugin/generic/server/SampleRegisterOrUpdateUtil.java
@@ -73,13 +73,18 @@ public class SampleRegisterOrUpdateUtil
     {
         if (i1 != null && i2 != null)
         {
-            return dropDatabaseInstance(i1).equals(dropDatabaseInstance(i2));
+            return normalize(i1).equals(normalize(i2));
         } else
         {
             return i1 == i2;
         }
     }
 
+    private static String normalize(String id)
+    {
+        return dropDatabaseInstance(id).toUpperCase();
+    }
+
     private static String dropDatabaseInstance(String id)
     {
         assert id != null;