diff --git a/tensorflow/python/framework/dtypes.py b/tensorflow/python/framework/dtypes.py
index 994a7eea494..9eeae83c68a 100644
--- a/tensorflow/python/framework/dtypes.py
+++ b/tensorflow/python/framework/dtypes.py
@@ -607,6 +607,9 @@ assert len(_ANY_TO_TF) == sum(
 def as_dtype(type_value):
   """Converts the given `type_value` to a `DType`.
 
+  Note: `DType` values are interned. When passed a new `DType` object,
+  `as_dtype` always returns the interned value.
+
   Args:
     type_value: A value that can be converted to a `tf.DType` object. This may
       currently be a `tf.DType` object, a [`DataType`
@@ -620,7 +623,7 @@ def as_dtype(type_value):
     TypeError: If `type_value` cannot be converted to a `DType`.
   """
   if isinstance(type_value, DType):
-    return type_value
+    return _INTERN_TABLE[type_value.as_datatype_enum]
 
   if isinstance(type_value, np.dtype):
     try:
diff --git a/tensorflow/python/framework/dtypes_test.py b/tensorflow/python/framework/dtypes_test.py
index 041cc5280cd..1b7e02b6179 100644
--- a/tensorflow/python/framework/dtypes_test.py
+++ b/tensorflow/python/framework/dtypes_test.py
@@ -325,15 +325,19 @@ class TypesTest(test_util.TensorFlowTestCase):
     for enum in dtypes._TYPE_TO_STRING:
       dtype = dtypes.DType(enum)
       ctor, args = dtype.__reduce__()
-      self.assertEquals(ctor, dtypes.as_dtype)
-      self.assertEquals(args, (dtype.name,))
+      self.assertEqual(ctor, dtypes.as_dtype)
+      self.assertEqual(args, (dtype.name,))
       reconstructed = ctor(*args)
-      self.assertEquals(reconstructed, dtype)
+      self.assertEqual(reconstructed, dtype)
 
   def testAsDtypeInvalidArgument(self):
     with self.assertRaises(TypeError):
       dtypes.as_dtype((dtypes.int32, dtypes.float32))
 
+  def testAsDtypeReturnsInternedVersion(self):
+    dt = dtypes.DType(types_pb2.DT_VARIANT)
+    self.assertIs(dtypes.as_dtype(dt), dtypes.variant)
+
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
   googletest.main()