diff --git a/src/c/predicate.d b/src/c/predicate.d
index 6ad82e260..57eeca00f 100644
--- a/src/c/predicate.d
+++ b/src/c/predicate.d
@@ -377,8 +377,8 @@ ecl_equal(register cl_object x, cl_object y)
     ox = x->vector.offset;
     oy = y->vector.offset;
     for (i = 0;  i < x->vector.fillp;  i++)
-      if((x->vector.self.bit[(i+ox)/8] & (0200>>(i+ox)%8))
-         !=(y->vector.self.bit[(i+oy)/8] & (0200>>(i+oy)%8)))
+      if(((x->vector.self.bit[(i+ox)/8] & (0200>>(i+ox)%8)) << ox)
+         !=((y->vector.self.bit[(i+oy)/8] & (0200>>(i+oy)%8)) << oy))
         return(FALSE);
     return(TRUE);
   }