diff --git a/pythonwhat/check_funcs.py b/pythonwhat/check_funcs.py
index 709607f7..b3d0cda2 100644
--- a/pythonwhat/check_funcs.py
+++ b/pythonwhat/check_funcs.py
@@ -422,8 +422,13 @@ def has_equal_ast(incorrect_msg="FMT: Your code does not seem to match the solut
     """
     rep = Reporter.active_reporter
 
-    parse_tree = lambda n: ast.dump(n.body[0] if isinstance(n, ast.Module) and len(n.body) == 1 else n)
+    def parse_tree(n):
+        # get contents of module.body if only 1 element
+        crnt = n.body[0] if isinstance(n, ast.Module) and len(n.body) == 1 else n
 
+        # remove Expr if it exists
+        return ast.dump(crnt.value if isinstance(crnt, ast.Expr) else crnt)
+        
     stu_rep = parse_tree(state.student_tree)
     sol_rep = parse_tree(state.solution_tree if not code else ast.parse(code))
 
diff --git a/tests/test_spec.py b/tests/test_spec.py
index cb3aa5f8..4938e9dc 100644
--- a/tests/test_spec.py
+++ b/tests/test_spec.py
@@ -220,6 +220,15 @@ def test_exact_false_fail(self):
         self.data["DC_SCT"] = "Ex().has_equal_ast(exact=False)"
         self.failing_submission()
 
+    def test_part_of_method_pass(self):
+        self.data["DC_SCT"] = """Ex().has_equal_ast(code = 'dict(a = "a")', exact=False)"""
+        sct_payload = helper.run(self.data)
+        self.assertTrue(sct_payload['correct'])
+
+    def test_part_of_method_fail(self):
+        self.data["DC_SCT"] = """Ex().has_equal_ast(code = 'dict(a = "a")', exact=False)"""
+        self.failing_submission()
+
 class TestOverride(unittest.TestCase):
     """
     This class is used to test overriding w/ correct and incorrect code. Tests are