diff --git a/libs/gamecode/pr_v6p_opcode.c b/libs/gamecode/pr_v6p_opcode.c
index cb11c9eca..c99ef1580 100644
--- a/libs/gamecode/pr_v6p_opcode.c
+++ b/libs/gamecode/pr_v6p_opcode.c
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ VISIBLE const v6p_opcode_t pr_v6p_opcodes[] = {
 	 ev_quaternion, ev_quaternion, ev_int,
 	 PROG_V6P_VERSION,
 	},
-	[OP_NE_S_v6p] = {"ne", "ne.s",
+	[OP_NE_S_v6p] = {"cmp", "ne.s",
 	 ev_string, ev_string, ev_int,
 	 PROG_ID_VERSION,
 	},
diff --git a/tools/qfcc/source/statements.c b/tools/qfcc/source/statements.c
index c2387cec8..f81807a82 100644
--- a/tools/qfcc/source/statements.c
+++ b/tools/qfcc/source/statements.c
@@ -1548,6 +1548,9 @@ expr_expr (sblock_t *sblock, expr_t *e, operand_t **op)
 	opcode = convert_op (e->e.expr.op);
 	if (!opcode)
 		internal_error (e, "ice ice baby");
+	if (strcmp (opcode, "ne") == 0 && is_string (get_type (e->e.expr.e1))) {
+		opcode = "cmp";
+	}
 	s = new_statement (st_expr, opcode, e);
 	sblock = statement_subexpr (sblock, e->e.expr.e1, &s->opa);
 	sblock = statement_subexpr (sblock, e->e.expr.e2, &s->opb);