diff --git a/icu4j/tools/misc/src/com/ibm/icu/dev/tool/ime/translit/TransliteratorInputMethod.java b/icu4j/tools/misc/src/com/ibm/icu/dev/tool/ime/translit/TransliteratorInputMethod.java
index b0bf4b20d1..4655aed419 100644
--- a/icu4j/tools/misc/src/com/ibm/icu/dev/tool/ime/translit/TransliteratorInputMethod.java
+++ b/icu4j/tools/misc/src/com/ibm/icu/dev/tool/ime/translit/TransliteratorInputMethod.java
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 /*
  *******************************************************************************
- * Copyright (C) 2004-2010, International Business Machines Corporation and    *
+ * Copyright (C) 2004-2011, International Business Machines Corporation and    *
  * others. All Rights Reserved.                                                *
  *******************************************************************************
  */
@@ -713,6 +713,6 @@ class LabelComparator implements Comparator {
     }
 
     public boolean equals(Object obj1) {
-        return this.equals(obj1);
+        return compare(this, obj1) == 0;
     }
 }