diff --git a/lisp/misearch.el b/lisp/misearch.el
index 257042e39b9..5d41ae5fc15 100644
--- a/lisp/misearch.el
+++ b/lisp/misearch.el
@@ -327,7 +327,7 @@ Every next/previous file in the defined sequence is visited by
 				      default-directory
 				      buffer-file-name)))
 	 (file nil))
-    (while (not (string-equal
+    (while (not (file-equal-p
 		 (setq file (read-file-name
 			     "Next file to search (RET to end): "
 			     default-directory