diff --git a/.phpcs.xml b/.phpcs.xml
index 0821d7a3b..729da92cd 100644
--- a/.phpcs.xml
+++ b/.phpcs.xml
@@ -49,4 +49,7 @@
             <property name="spacesCountAroundEqualsSign" value="0" />
         </properties>
     </rule>
+    <rule ref="SlevomatCodingStandard.Operators.DisallowEqualOperators">
+        <exclude-pattern>/includes</exclude-pattern>
+    </rule>
 </ruleset>