diff --git a/src/hotspot/share/utilities/growableArray.hpp b/src/hotspot/share/utilities/growableArray.hpp
index 4c5a491..eb59003 100644
--- a/src/hotspot/share/utilities/growableArray.hpp
+++ b/src/hotspot/share/utilities/growableArray.hpp
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 #define SHARE_VM_UTILITIES_GROWABLEARRAY_HPP
 
 #include "memory/allocation.hpp"
+#include "oops/oop.hpp"
 #include "utilities/debug.hpp"
 #include "utilities/globalDefinitions.hpp"
 #include "utilities/ostream.hpp"
@@ -211,6 +212,15 @@ template<class E> class GrowableArray : public GenericGrowableArray {
 
   void print();
 
+  inline static bool safe_equals(oop obj1, oop obj2) {
+    return oopDesc::equals(obj1, obj2);
+  }
+
+  template <class X>
+  inline static bool safe_equals(X i1, X i2) {
+    return i1 == i2;
+  }
+
   int append(const E& elem) {
     check_nesting();
     if (_len == _max) grow(_len);
@@ -295,7 +305,7 @@ template<class E> class GrowableArray : public GenericGrowableArray {
 
   bool contains(const E& elem) const {
     for (int i = 0; i < _len; i++) {
-      if (_data[i] == elem) return true;
+      if (safe_equals(_data[i], elem)) return true;
     }
     return false;
   }