diff --git a/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/lib/Repository.java b/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/lib/Repository.java
index d53b0c926..35e3c5a50 100644
--- a/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/lib/Repository.java
+++ b/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/lib/Repository.java
@@ -1541,8 +1541,9 @@ public static String stripWorkDir(File workDir, File file) {
 		    !filePath.startsWith(workDirPath)) {
 			File absWd = workDir.isAbsolute() ? workDir : workDir.getAbsoluteFile();
 			File absFile = file.isAbsolute() ? file : file.getAbsoluteFile();
-			if (absWd == workDir && absFile == file)
+			if (absWd.equals(workDir) && absFile.equals(file)) {
 				return ""; //$NON-NLS-1$
+			}
 			return stripWorkDir(absWd, absFile);
 		}