diff --git a/src/Expr.cc b/src/Expr.cc
index d87526b654..9e77d3ec19 100644
--- a/src/Expr.cc
+++ b/src/Expr.cc
@@ -1992,8 +1992,10 @@ EqExpr::EqExpr(ExprTag arg_tag, ExprPtr arg_op1, ExprPtr arg_op2)
         }
     }
 
-    else if ( bt1 == TYPE_PATTERN && bt2 == TYPE_STRING )
-        ;
+    else if ( (bt1 == TYPE_PATTERN && bt2 == TYPE_STRING) || (bt1 == TYPE_STRING && bt2 == TYPE_PATTERN) ) {
+        if ( op1->GetType()->Tag() == TYPE_VECTOR )
+            ExprError("cannot compare string vectors with pattern vectors");
+    }
 
     else
         ExprError("type clash in comparison");