diff --git a/java/core/src/main/java/com/google/protobuf/ByteString.java b/java/core/src/main/java/com/google/protobuf/ByteString.java
index 8d1d0c8d6ee79..4e94fda672e44 100644
--- a/java/core/src/main/java/com/google/protobuf/ByteString.java
+++ b/java/core/src/main/java/com/google/protobuf/ByteString.java
@@ -1555,8 +1555,7 @@ public final boolean equals(
         if (thisHash != 0 && thatHash != 0 && thisHash != thatHash) {
           return false;
         }
-
-        return equalsRange((LiteralByteString) other, 0, size());
+        return Arrays.equals(bytes, otherAsLiteral.bytes);
       } else {
         // RopeByteString and NioByteString.
         return other.equals(this);