diff --git a/lib/index.js b/lib/index.js
index 3bc6a72d..47f6c37c 100644
--- a/lib/index.js
+++ b/lib/index.js
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ module.exports = {
         return obj && typeof obj.nodeType === 'number' && obj.nodeType === 3;
       },
       equal: function (a, b) {
-        return a.nodeValue.trim() === b.nodeValue.trim();
+        return a.nodeValue === b.nodeValue;
       },
       inspect: function (element, depth, output) {
         return output.code(entitify(element.nodeValue.trim()), 'html');