diff --git a/include/yaml-cpp/node/detail/impl.h b/include/yaml-cpp/node/detail/impl.h
index a94c7bc..b38038d 100644
--- a/include/yaml-cpp/node/detail/impl.h
+++ b/include/yaml-cpp/node/detail/impl.h
@@ -106,7 +106,11 @@ inline bool node::equals(const T& rhs, shared_memory_holder pMemory) {
 }
 
 inline bool node::equals(const char* rhs, shared_memory_holder pMemory) {
-  return equals<std::string>(rhs, pMemory);
+  std::string lhs;
+  if (convert<std::string>::decode(Node(*this, std::move(pMemory)), lhs)) {
+    return lhs == rhs;
+  }
+  return false;
 }
 
 // indexing