diff --git a/lib/jasmine-core/jasmine.js b/lib/jasmine-core/jasmine.js
index ba53d714..93e5883f 100644
--- a/lib/jasmine-core/jasmine.js
+++ b/lib/jasmine-core/jasmine.js
@@ -2288,6 +2288,29 @@ getJasmineRequireObj().matchersUtil = function(j$) {
           a.ignoreCase == b.ignoreCase;
     }
     if (typeof a != 'object' || typeof b != 'object') { return false; }
+
+    var aIsDomNode = j$.isDomNode(a);
+    var bIsDomNode = j$.isDomNode(b);
+    if (aIsDomNode && bIsDomNode) {
+      // At first try to use DOM3 method isEqualNode
+      if (a.isEqualNode) {
+        return a.isEqualNode(b);
+      }
+      // IE8 doesn't support isEqualNode, try to use outerHTML && innerText
+      var aIsElement = a instanceof Element;
+      var bIsElement = b instanceof Element;
+      if (aIsElement && bIsElement) {
+        return a.outerHTML == b.outerHTML;
+      }
+      if (aIsElement || bIsElement) {
+        return false;
+      }
+      return a.innerText == b.innerText && a.textContent == b.textContent;
+    }
+    if (aIsDomNode || bIsDomNode) {
+      return false;
+    }
+
     // Assume equality for cyclic structures. The algorithm for detecting cyclic
     // structures is adapted from ES 5.1 section 15.12.3, abstract operation `JO`.
     var length = aStack.length;
diff --git a/spec/core/matchers/matchersUtilSpec.js b/spec/core/matchers/matchersUtilSpec.js
index ebca6a7d..2e68a3d2 100644
--- a/spec/core/matchers/matchersUtilSpec.js
+++ b/spec/core/matchers/matchersUtilSpec.js
@@ -132,6 +132,45 @@ describe("matchersUtil", function() {
       expect(j$.matchersUtil.equals(a,b)).toBe(true);
     });
 
+    it("passes for equivalent DOM nodes", function() {
+      if (typeof document === 'undefined') {
+        return;
+      }
+      var a = document.createElement("div");
+      a.setAttribute("test-attr", "attr-value")
+      a.appendChild(document.createTextNode('test'));
+
+      var b = document.createElement("div");
+      b.setAttribute("test-attr", "attr-value")
+      b.appendChild(document.createTextNode('test'));
+
+      expect(j$.matchersUtil.equals(a,b)).toBe(true);
+    });
+
+    it("fails for DOM nodes with different attributes or child nodes", function() {
+      if (typeof document === 'undefined') {
+        return;
+      }
+      var a = document.createElement("div");
+      a.setAttribute("test-attr", "attr-value")
+      a.appendChild(document.createTextNode('test'));
+
+      var b = document.createElement("div");
+      b.setAttribute("test-attr", "attr-value2")
+      b.appendChild(document.createTextNode('test'));
+
+      expect(j$.matchersUtil.equals(a,b)).toBe(false);
+
+      b.setAttribute("test-attr", "attr-value");
+      expect(j$.matchersUtil.equals(a,b)).toBe(true);
+
+      b.appendChild(document.createTextNode('2'));
+      expect(j$.matchersUtil.equals(a,b)).toBe(false);
+
+      a.appendChild(document.createTextNode('2'));
+      expect(j$.matchersUtil.equals(a,b)).toBe(true);
+    });
+
     it("passes when Any is used", function() {
       var number = 3,
         anyNumber = new j$.Any(Number);
diff --git a/src/core/matchers/matchersUtil.js b/src/core/matchers/matchersUtil.js
index 1f7a6817..f58331fd 100644
--- a/src/core/matchers/matchersUtil.js
+++ b/src/core/matchers/matchersUtil.js
@@ -110,6 +110,29 @@ getJasmineRequireObj().matchersUtil = function(j$) {
           a.ignoreCase == b.ignoreCase;
     }
     if (typeof a != 'object' || typeof b != 'object') { return false; }
+
+    var aIsDomNode = j$.isDomNode(a);
+    var bIsDomNode = j$.isDomNode(b);
+    if (aIsDomNode && bIsDomNode) {
+      // At first try to use DOM3 method isEqualNode
+      if (a.isEqualNode) {
+        return a.isEqualNode(b);
+      }
+      // IE8 doesn't support isEqualNode, try to use outerHTML && innerText
+      var aIsElement = a instanceof Element;
+      var bIsElement = b instanceof Element;
+      if (aIsElement && bIsElement) {
+        return a.outerHTML == b.outerHTML;
+      }
+      if (aIsElement || bIsElement) {
+        return false;
+      }
+      return a.innerText == b.innerText && a.textContent == b.textContent;
+    }
+    if (aIsDomNode || bIsDomNode) {
+      return false;
+    }
+
     // Assume equality for cyclic structures. The algorithm for detecting cyclic
     // structures is adapted from ES 5.1 section 15.12.3, abstract operation `JO`.
     var length = aStack.length;