diff --git a/src/main/org/apache/tools/tar/TarEntry.java b/src/main/org/apache/tools/tar/TarEntry.java
index 01f5b8ab1..bde05547b 100644
--- a/src/main/org/apache/tools/tar/TarEntry.java
+++ b/src/main/org/apache/tools/tar/TarEntry.java
@@ -325,6 +325,20 @@ public class TarEntry implements TarConstants {
         return this.getName().equals(it.getName());
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Determine if the two entries are equal. Equality is determined
+     * by the header names being equal.
+     *
+     * @param it Entry to be checked for equality.
+     * @return True if the entries are equal.
+     */
+    public boolean equals(Object it) {
+        if (it == null || getClass() != it.getClass()) {
+            return false;
+        }
+        return equals((TarEntry) it);
+    }
+
     /**
      * Hashcodes are based on entry names.
      *