diff --git a/docs/manual/CoreTasks/conditions.html b/docs/manual/CoreTasks/conditions.html
index 9c46488b3..b22f97aeb 100644
--- a/docs/manual/CoreTasks/conditions.html
+++ b/docs/manual/CoreTasks/conditions.html
@@ -112,6 +112,18 @@ the tests succeed.
     <td valign="top">Second string to test.</td>
     <td valign="top" align="center">Yes</td>
   </tr>
+  <tr>
+    <td valign="top">casesensitive</td>
+    <td valign="top">Perform a case sensitive comparision.  Default is
+        true.</td>
+    <td valign="top" align="center">No</td>
+  </tr>
+  <tr>
+    <td valign="top">trim</td>
+    <td valign="top">Trim whitespace from arguments before comparing
+        them.  Default is false.</td>
+    <td valign="top" align="center">No</td>
+  </tr>
 </table>
 
 <h4>isset</h4>
diff --git a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/condition/Equals.java b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/condition/Equals.java
index de4aa19f7..4b1164a46 100644
--- a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/condition/Equals.java
+++ b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/condition/Equals.java
@@ -65,14 +65,45 @@ import org.apache.tools.ant.BuildException;
 public class Equals implements Condition {
 
     private String arg1, arg2;
+    private boolean trim = false;
+    private boolean caseSensitive = true;
 
-    public void setArg1(String a1) {arg1 = a1;}
-    public void setArg2(String a2) {arg2 = a2;}
+    public void setArg1(String a1) {
+        arg1 = a1;
+    }
+
+    public void setArg2(String a2) {
+        arg2 = a2;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Should we want to trim the arguments before comparing them?
+     *
+     * @since Revision: 1.3, Ant 1.5
+     */
+    public void setTrim(boolean b) {
+        trim = b;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Should the comparison be case sensitive?
+     *
+     * @since Revision: 1.3, Ant 1.5
+     */
+    public void setCasesensitive(boolean b) {
+        caseSensitive = b;
+    }
 
     public boolean eval() throws BuildException {
         if (arg1 == null || arg2 == null) {
             throw new BuildException("both arg1 and arg2 are required in equals");
         }
-        return arg1.equals(arg2);
+
+        if (trim) {
+            arg1 = arg1.trim();
+            arg2 = arg2.trim();
+        }
+        
+        return caseSensitive ? arg1.equals(arg2) : arg1.equalsIgnoreCase(arg2);
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/testcases/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/condition/EqualsTest.java b/src/testcases/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/condition/EqualsTest.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..be8b5fbe1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/testcases/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/condition/EqualsTest.java
@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+/*
+ * The Apache Software License, Version 1.1
+ *
+ * Copyright (c) 2002 The Apache Software Foundation.  All rights
+ * reserved.
+ *
+ * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+ * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
+ * are met:
+ *
+ * 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+ *    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+ *
+ * 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+ *    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in
+ *    the documentation and/or other materials provided with the
+ *    distribution.
+ *
+ * 3. The end-user documentation included with the redistribution, if
+ *    any, must include the following acknowlegement:
+ *       "This product includes software developed by the
+ *        Apache Software Foundation (http://www.apache.org/)."
+ *    Alternately, this acknowlegement may appear in the software itself,
+ *    if and wherever such third-party acknowlegements normally appear.
+ *
+ * 4. The names "The Jakarta Project", "Ant", and "Apache Software
+ *    Foundation" must not be used to endorse or promote products derived
+ *    from this software without prior written permission. For written
+ *    permission, please contact apache@apache.org.
+ *
+ * 5. Products derived from this software may not be called "Apache"
+ *    nor may "Apache" appear in their names without prior written
+ *    permission of the Apache Group.
+ *
+ * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED ``AS IS'' AND ANY EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED
+ * WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES
+ * OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE
+ * DISCLAIMED.  IN NO EVENT SHALL THE APACHE SOFTWARE FOUNDATION OR
+ * ITS CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
+ * SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+ * LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF
+ * USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND
+ * ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY,
+ * OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT
+ * OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF
+ * SUCH DAMAGE.
+ * ====================================================================
+ *
+ * This software consists of voluntary contributions made by many
+ * individuals on behalf of the Apache Software Foundation.  For more
+ * information on the Apache Software Foundation, please see
+ * <http://www.apache.org/>.
+ */
+
+package org.apache.tools.ant.taskdefs.condition;
+
+import junit.framework.TestCase;
+
+/**
+ * Testcase for the &lt;equals&gt; condition.
+ *
+ * @author <a href="mailto:stefan.bodewig@epost.de">Stefan Bodewig</a>
+ * @version $Revision$
+ */
+public class EqualsTest extends TestCase {
+
+    public EqualsTest(String name) {
+        super(name);
+    }
+
+    public void testTrim() {
+        Equals eq = new Equals();
+        eq.setArg1("a");
+        eq.setArg2(" a");
+        assertTrue(!eq.eval());
+
+        eq.setTrim(true);
+        assertTrue(eq.eval());
+
+        eq.setArg2("a\t");
+        assertTrue(eq.eval());
+    }
+
+    public void testCaseSensitive() {
+        Equals eq = new Equals();
+        eq.setArg1("a");
+        eq.setArg2("A");
+        assertTrue(!eq.eval());
+
+        eq.setCasesensitive(false);
+        assertTrue(eq.eval());
+    }
+
+}