diff --git a/core/src/test/java/org/bouncycastle/crypto/test/PKCS12Test.java b/core/src/test/java/org/bouncycastle/crypto/test/PKCS12Test.java
index a5402aeae0..04c3157eed 100644
--- a/core/src/test/java/org/bouncycastle/crypto/test/PKCS12Test.java
+++ b/core/src/test/java/org/bouncycastle/crypto/test/PKCS12Test.java
@@ -26,6 +26,13 @@ private boolean isEqual(
         byte[]  a,
         byte[]  b)
     {
+        if(a == b){
+            return true;
+        }
+        if(null == a || null == b){
+            return false;
+        }
+
         if (a.length != b.length)
         {
             return false;