diff --git a/client/src/com/aerospike/client/Value.java b/client/src/com/aerospike/client/Value.java
index 0dc598846..ac58b4a40 100644
--- a/client/src/com/aerospike/client/Value.java
+++ b/client/src/com/aerospike/client/Value.java
@@ -446,7 +446,8 @@ public boolean equals(Object other) {
 			if (other == null) {
 				return true;
 			}
-			return this.getClass().equals(other.getClass());
+			// Use direct class reference comparison instead of reflective equals call for performance.
+			return other.getClass() == NullValue.class;
 		}
 
 		@Override