In this brief note, we prove the following: Let R be a semi-primitive ring. Suppose that for each pair x, y ε R there exist positive integers m = m (x,y) and n = n (x,y) such that either [xm,(xy) n − (yx) n] = 0 or [xm,(xy) n + (yx) n] = 0. Then R is commutative.