diff --git a/core/assocs/assocs.factor b/core/assocs/assocs.factor
index 58a2a29eb1..0508d2e569 100644
--- a/core/assocs/assocs.factor
+++ b/core/assocs/assocs.factor
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ M: assoc assoc-clone-like ( assoc exemplar -- newassoc )
     [ at* [ = ] [ 2drop f ] if ] with-assoc assoc-all? ;
 
 : assoc= ( assoc1 assoc2 -- ? )
-    [ assoc-subset? ] [ swap assoc-subset? ] 2bi and ;
+    2dup [ assoc-size ] bi@ eq? [ assoc-subset? ] [ 2drop f ] if ;
 
 : assoc-hashcode ( n assoc -- code )
     >alist hashcode* ;
diff --git a/core/hashtables/hashtables.factor b/core/hashtables/hashtables.factor
index be5aa97634..e7acf12454 100644
--- a/core/hashtables/hashtables.factor
+++ b/core/hashtables/hashtables.factor
@@ -151,10 +151,7 @@ M: hashtable clone
     (clone) [ clone ] change-array ; inline
 
 M: hashtable equal?
-    over hashtable? [
-        2dup [ assoc-size ] bi@ eq?
-        [ assoc= ] [ 2drop f ] if
-    ] [ 2drop f ] if ;
+    over hashtable? [ assoc= ] [ 2drop f ] if ;
 
 ! Default method
 M: assoc new-assoc drop <hashtable> ; inline