diff --git a/Core/src/main/java/com/github/intellectualsites/plotsquared/plot/util/StringMan.java b/Core/src/main/java/com/github/intellectualsites/plotsquared/plot/util/StringMan.java
index d488ab98f..4404f509c 100644
--- a/Core/src/main/java/com/github/intellectualsites/plotsquared/plot/util/StringMan.java
+++ b/Core/src/main/java/com/github/intellectualsites/plotsquared/plot/util/StringMan.java
@@ -240,8 +240,10 @@ public class StringMan {
     }
 
     public static boolean isEqual(String a, String b) {
-        return a.equals(b) || b != null && a.length() == b.length() && a.hashCode() == b.hashCode()
-            && a.equals(b);
+       return (a == b) || ((a != null) && (b != null) && (a.length() == b.length()) && 
+              (a.hashCode() == b.hashCode()) && a.equals(b));
+        // return a.equals(b) || b != null && a.length() == b.length() && a.hashCode() == b.hashCode()
+        //    && a.equals(b);
     }
 
     public static boolean isEqualIgnoreCase(String a, String b) {