diff --git a/src/core/vm.c b/src/core/vm.c
index 6645cfb5..caf51407 100644
--- a/src/core/vm.c
+++ b/src/core/vm.c
@@ -861,7 +861,7 @@ static JanetSignal run_vm(JanetFiber *fiber, Janet in) {
     vm_pcnext();
 
     VM_OP(JOP_EQUALS_IMMEDIATE)
-    stack[A] = janet_wrap_boolean(janet_unwrap_number(stack[B]) == (double) CS);
+    stack[A] = janet_wrap_boolean(janet_checktype(stack[B], JANET_NUMBER) && (janet_unwrap_number(stack[B]) == (double) CS));
     vm_pcnext();
 
     VM_OP(JOP_NOT_EQUALS)
@@ -869,7 +869,7 @@ static JanetSignal run_vm(JanetFiber *fiber, Janet in) {
     vm_pcnext();
 
     VM_OP(JOP_NOT_EQUALS_IMMEDIATE)
-    stack[A] = janet_wrap_boolean(janet_unwrap_number(stack[B]) != (double) CS);
+    stack[A] = janet_wrap_boolean(!janet_checktype(stack[B], JANET_NUMBER) || (janet_unwrap_number(stack[B]) != (double) CS));
     vm_pcnext();
 
     VM_OP(JOP_COMPARE)