diff --git a/plenum/server/pool_req_handler.py b/plenum/server/pool_req_handler.py
index b5b5f71ebf..e55e1e5ced 100644
--- a/plenum/server/pool_req_handler.py
+++ b/plenum/server/pool_req_handler.py
@@ -80,8 +80,7 @@ def authErrorWhileAddingNode(self, request):
                 origin)
         if self.stewardHasNode(origin):
             return "{} already has a node".format(origin)
-        if self.isNodeDataConflicting(
-                operation.get(DATA, request.operation.get(TARGET_NYM))):
+        if self.isNodeDataConflicting(data):
             return "existing data has conflicts with " \
                    "request data {}".format(operation.get(DATA))
 
@@ -157,14 +156,14 @@ def isNodeDataSame(self, nodeNym, newData, isCommitted=True):
         nodeInfo.pop(f.IDENTIFIER.nm, None)
         return nodeInfo == newData
 
-    def isNodeDataConflicting(self, data, nodeNym=None):
+    def isNodeDataConflicting(self, data, updatingNym=None):
         # Check if node's ALIAS or IPs or ports conflicts with other nodes,
         # also, the node is not allowed to change its alias.
 
         # Check ALIAS change
         nodeData = {}
-        if nodeNym:
-            nodeData = self.getNodeData(nodeNym, isCommitted=False)
+        if updatingNym:
+            nodeData = self.getNodeData(updatingNym, isCommitted=False)
             if nodeData.get(ALIAS) != data.get(ALIAS):
                 return True
             else:
@@ -178,7 +177,7 @@ def isNodeDataConflicting(self, data, nodeNym=None):
             otherNodeData = self.stateSerializer.deserialize(otherNodeData)
             otherNodeData.pop(f.IDENTIFIER.nm, None)
             otherNodeData.pop(SERVICES, None)
-            if not nodeNym or otherNode != nodeNym:
+            if not updatingNym or otherNode != updatingNym:
                 # The node's ip, port and alias shuuld be unique
                 bag = set()
                 for d in (nodeData, otherNodeData):
@@ -192,8 +191,8 @@ def isNodeDataConflicting(self, data, nodeNym=None):
                 if (not nodeData and len(bag) != 3) or (
                         nodeData and len(bag) != 6):
                     return True
-            if nodeData.get(ALIAS) == otherNodeData.get(
-                    ALIAS) and not nodeNym or otherNode != nodeNym:
+            if data.get(ALIAS) == otherNodeData.get(
+                    ALIAS) and not updatingNym:
                 return True
 
     def dataErrorWhileValidatingUpdate(self, data, nodeNym):