diff --git a/test/benchmark/string_equals.py b/test/benchmark/string_equals.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f42947de
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/benchmark/string_equals.py
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+from __future__ import print_function
+
+import time
+start = time.clock()
+
+count = 0
+for i in range(0, 1000000):
+  if "abc" == "abc":
+    count = count + 1
+  if "a slightly longer string" == \
+     "a slightly longer string":
+      count = count + 1
+  if "a significantly longer string but still not overwhelmingly long string" == \
+     "a significantly longer string but still not overwhelmingly long string":
+      count = count + 1
+
+  if "" == "abc":
+    count = count + 1
+  if "abc" == "abcd":
+    count = count + 1
+  if "changed one character" == "changed %ne character":
+    count = count + 1
+  if "123" == 123: count = count + 1
+  if "a slightly longer string" == \
+     "a slightly longer string!":
+      count = count + 1
+  if "a slightly longer string" == \
+     "a slightly longer strinh":
+      count = count + 1
+  if "a significantly longer string but still not overwhelmingly long string" == \
+     "another":
+      count = count + 1
+
+print(count)
+print("elapsed: " + str(time.clock() - start))