diff --git a/DS_implementations/python/disjoint_set.py b/DS_implementations/python/disjoint_set.py
index d2174c3..f47ebe9 100644
--- a/DS_implementations/python/disjoint_set.py
+++ b/DS_implementations/python/disjoint_set.py
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ class DisjointSet(Generic[T]):
         Amortized Time Complexity per query: ~O(1)
         """
         x, y = self.find_root(x), self.find_root(y)
+        if x == y: return  # if both x and y are already in the same component, do thing
         if self.size_of(x) < self.size_of(y):
             x, y = y, x  # swap so that y is always the larger component
         self._parents[y] = x