diff --git a/kitty/rc/set_background_opacity.py b/kitty/rc/set_background_opacity.py
index d7c0c7897..ab44acf0b 100644
--- a/kitty/rc/set_background_opacity.py
+++ b/kitty/rc/set_background_opacity.py
@@ -70,7 +70,10 @@ def response_from_kitty(self, boss: Boss, window: Window | None, payload_get: Pa
             val: float = payload_get('opacity') or 0.
             if payload_get('toggle'):
                 current = background_opacity_of(os_window_id)
-                if current == val:
+                # GLFW represents opacity as a float internally, but python's
+                # "float" type has double precision, so we can't rely on precise
+                # equality here
+                if abs(current - val) <= 0.0001:
                     val = opts.background_opacity
             boss._set_os_window_background_opacity(os_window_id, val)
         return None