diff --git a/lib/bup/vfs.py b/lib/bup/vfs.py
index 454355337..31327c57d 100644
--- a/lib/bup/vfs.py
+++ b/lib/bup/vfs.py
@@ -175,6 +175,14 @@ def __init__(self, parent, name, mode, hash):
     def __cmp__(a, b):
         return cmp(a and a.name or None, b and b.name or None)
 
+    def __eq__(self, other):
+        if hasattr(other, 'hash'):
+            return self.hash == other.hash
+        return self.hash == other
+
+    def __ne__(self, other):
+        return not self.__eq__(other)
+
     def __iter__(self):
         return iter(self.subs())