diff --git a/src/ircutils.py b/src/ircutils.py
index 2ef1b6c9e..dac2f39c3 100644
--- a/src/ircutils.py
+++ b/src/ircutils.py
@@ -326,6 +326,9 @@ class IrcString(str):
         except:
             return False
 
+    def __ne__(self, s):
+        return not self == s
+
     def __hash__(self):
         return hash(self.lowered)
 
diff --git a/test/test_ircutils.py b/test/test_ircutils.py
index ce13af0fa..37914a705 100644
--- a/test/test_ircutils.py
+++ b/test/test_ircutils.py
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ class IrcSetTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         self.failIf('FOo' in s)
 
 class IrcStringTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
-    def test(self):
+    def testEquality(self):
         self.assertEqual('#foo', ircutils.IrcString('#foo'))
         self.assertEqual('#foo', ircutils.IrcString('#FOO'))
         self.assertEqual('#FOO', ircutils.IrcString('#foo'))
@@ -220,6 +220,12 @@ class IrcStringTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(hash(ircutils.IrcString('#FOO')),
                          hash(ircutils.IrcString('#foo')))
 
+    def testInequality(self):
+        s1 = 'supybot'
+        s2 = ircutils.IrcString('Supybot')
+        self.failUnless(s1 == s2)
+        self.failIf(s1 != s2)
+
 
 # vim:set shiftwidth=4 tabstop=8 expandtab textwidth=78: