diff --git a/projects/samskivert/src/java/com/samskivert/util/ObjectUtil.java b/projects/samskivert/src/java/com/samskivert/util/ObjectUtil.java
index 43284959..df33df6a 100644
--- a/projects/samskivert/src/java/com/samskivert/util/ObjectUtil.java
+++ b/projects/samskivert/src/java/com/samskivert/util/ObjectUtil.java
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ public class ObjectUtil
      */
     public static boolean equals (Object o1, Object o2)
     {
-        return (o1 == null) ? (o2 == null) : o1.equals(o2);
+        return (o1 == o2) || ((o1 != null) && o1.equals(o2));
     }
 
     /**