diff --git a/src/java.base/share/classes/java/util/Objects.java b/src/java.base/share/classes/java/util/Objects.java
index 9e94af1ee77..472531663c9 100644
--- a/src/java.base/share/classes/java/util/Objects.java
+++ b/src/java.base/share/classes/java/util/Objects.java
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ public static boolean equals( @Nullable Object a,  @Nullable Object b) {
 
     // Define and annotate an overload that is unique to j2cl: b/201433789
     public static boolean equals( @Nullable String a,  @Nullable String b) {
-        return equals(a, b);
+        return equals((Object) a, b);
     }
 
    /**