diff --git a/Lib/filecmp.py b/Lib/filecmp.py
index e5ad8397e4c539..3b76167227326e 100644
--- a/Lib/filecmp.py
+++ b/Lib/filecmp.py
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ def phase4(self): # Find out differences between common subdirectories
         for x in self.common_dirs:
             a_x = os.path.join(self.left, x)
             b_x = os.path.join(self.right, x)
-            self.subdirs[x]  = dircmp(a_x, b_x, self.ignore, self.hide)
+            self.subdirs[x] = type(self)(a_x, b_x, self.ignore, self.hide)
 
     def phase4_closure(self): # Recursively call phase4() on subdirectories
         self.phase4()