diff --git a/panda/src/pgraph/nodePath.cxx b/panda/src/pgraph/nodePath.cxx
index 71bbb3a561..41e02b0821 100644
--- a/panda/src/pgraph/nodePath.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/pgraph/nodePath.cxx
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@
 #include "bam.h"
 #include "bamWriter.h"
 #include "datagramBuffer.h"
+#include "weakNodePath.h"
 
 // stack seems to overflow on Intel C++ at 7000.  If we need more than 7000,
 // need to increase stack size.
@@ -5164,6 +5165,55 @@ get_stashed_ancestor(Thread *current_thread) const {
   return not_found();
 }
 
+/**
+ * Returns true if the two paths are equivalent; that is, if they contain the
+ * same list of nodes in the same order.
+ */
+bool NodePath::
+operator == (const WeakNodePath &other) const {
+  return _head == other._head;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Returns true if the two paths are not equivalent.
+ */
+bool NodePath::
+operator != (const WeakNodePath &other) const {
+  return _head != other._head;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Returns true if this NodePath sorts before the other one, false otherwise.
+ * The sorting order of two nonequivalent NodePaths is consistent but
+ * undefined, and is useful only for storing NodePaths in a sorted container
+ * like an STL set.
+ */
+bool NodePath::
+operator < (const WeakNodePath &other) const {
+  return _head < other._head;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Returns a number less than zero if this NodePath sorts before the other
+ * one, greater than zero if it sorts after, or zero if they are equivalent.
+ *
+ * Two NodePaths are considered equivalent if they consist of exactly the same
+ * list of nodes in the same order.  Otherwise, they are different; different
+ * NodePaths will be ranked in a consistent but undefined ordering; the
+ * ordering is useful only for placing the NodePaths in a sorted container
+ * like an STL set.
+ */
+int NodePath::
+compare_to(const WeakNodePath &other) const {
+  // Nowadays, the NodePathComponents at the head are pointerwise equivalent
+  // if and only if the NodePaths are equivalent.  So we only have to compare
+  // pointers.
+  if (_head != other._head) {
+    return _head < other._head ? -1 : 1;
+  }
+  return 0;
+}
+
 /**
  * Returns true if all of the nodes described in the NodePath are connected,
  * or false otherwise.
diff --git a/panda/src/pgraph/nodePath.h b/panda/src/pgraph/nodePath.h
index c5a3902c32..11d7437113 100644
--- a/panda/src/pgraph/nodePath.h
+++ b/panda/src/pgraph/nodePath.h
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ class SamplerState;
 class Shader;
 class ShaderBuffer;
 class ShaderInput;
+class WeakNodePath;
 
 //
 // A NodePath is the fundamental unit of high-level interaction with the scene
@@ -879,6 +880,11 @@ PUBLISHED:
   INLINE bool operator < (const NodePath &other) const;
   INLINE int compare_to(const NodePath &other) const;
 
+  bool operator == (const WeakNodePath &other) const;
+  bool operator != (const WeakNodePath &other) const;
+  bool operator < (const WeakNodePath &other) const;
+  int compare_to(const WeakNodePath &other) const;
+
   // Miscellaneous
   bool verify_complete(Thread *current_thread = Thread::get_current_thread()) const;
 
diff --git a/tests/pgraph/test_nodepath.py b/tests/pgraph/test_nodepath.py
index a625533634..9c97d4260a 100644
--- a/tests/pgraph/test_nodepath.py
+++ b/tests/pgraph/test_nodepath.py
@@ -79,3 +79,19 @@ def test_nodepath_transform_composition():
     leg2 = node1.get_transform().compose(node3.get_transform())
     relative_transform = leg1.get_inverse().compose(leg2)
     assert np1.get_transform(np2) == relative_transform
+
+
+def test_weak_nodepath_comparison():
+    from panda3d.core import NodePath, WeakNodePath
+
+    path = NodePath("node")
+    weak = WeakNodePath(path)
+
+    assert path == weak
+    assert weak == path
+    assert weak <= path
+    assert path <= weak
+
+    assert hash(path) == hash(weak)
+    assert weak.get_node_path() == path
+    assert weak.node() == path.node()