diff --git a/lib/ruby_units/unit.rb b/lib/ruby_units/unit.rb
index 61cfb482..aa588603 100644
--- a/lib/ruby_units/unit.rb
+++ b/lib/ruby_units/unit.rb
@@ -598,6 +598,12 @@ def unitless?
       return(@numerator == UNITY_ARRAY && @denominator == UNITY_ARRAY)
     end
 
+    # returns true if this is a counting unit
+    # @return [Boolean]
+    def counting?
+      self.kind == :unitless && !self.unitless?
+    end
+
     # Compare two Unit objects. Throws an exception if they are not of compatible types.
     # Comparisons are done based on the value of the unit in base SI units.
     # @param [Object] other
@@ -633,6 +639,8 @@ def ==(other)
       case
         when other.respond_to?(:zero?) && other.zero?
           return self.zero?
+        when self.counting? && other.instance_of?(Unit) && other.counting?
+          return self.units == other.units
         when other.instance_of?(Unit)
           return false unless self =~ other
           return self.base_scalar == other.base_scalar
@@ -658,7 +666,7 @@ def ==(other)
     def =~(other)
       case other
         when Unit
-          self.signature == other.signature
+          self.signature == other.signature && self.counting? == other.counting?
         else
           begin
             x, y = coerce(other)
diff --git a/spec/ruby-units/unit_spec.rb b/spec/ruby-units/unit_spec.rb
index 11001598..9b4b7356 100644
--- a/spec/ruby-units/unit_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/ruby-units/unit_spec.rb
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
     it { should_not be_degree }
     it { should be_base }
     it { should be_unitless }
+    it { should_not be_counting }
     it { should be_zero }
     its(:base) { should == subject }
   end
@@ -40,6 +41,7 @@
     it { should_not be_degree }
     it { should be_base }
     it { should be_unitless }
+    it { should_not be_counting }
     it { should_not be_zero }
     its(:base) { should == subject }
   end
@@ -56,6 +58,7 @@
     it { should_not be_degree }
     it { should be_base }
     it { should be_unitless }
+    it { should_not be_counting }
     it { should_not be_zero }
     its(:base) { should == subject }
   end
@@ -72,6 +75,7 @@
     it { should_not be_degree }
     it { should be_base }
     it { should be_unitless }
+    it { should_not be_counting }
     it { should_not be_zero }
     its(:base) { should == subject }
   end
@@ -88,6 +92,7 @@
     it { should_not be_degree }
     it { should be_base }
     it { should be_unitless }
+    it { should_not be_counting }
     it { should_not be_zero }
     its(:base) { should == subject }
   end
@@ -104,6 +109,7 @@
     it { should_not be_degree }
     it { should be_base }
     it { should be_unitless }
+    it { should_not be_counting }
     it { should_not be_zero }
     its(:base) { should == subject }
   end
@@ -119,6 +125,7 @@
     it { should_not be_degree }
     it { should be_base }
     it { should_not be_unitless }
+    it { should_not be_counting }
     it { should_not be_zero }
     its(:base) { should == subject }
   end
@@ -135,6 +142,7 @@
     it { should_not be_degree }
     it { should_not be_base }
     it { should_not be_unitless }
+    it { should_not be_counting }
     it { should_not be_zero }
     its(:base) { should == Unit("0.001 m") }
   end
@@ -151,6 +159,7 @@
     it { should_not be_degree }
     it { should be_base }
     it { should be_unitless }
+    it { should_not be_counting }
     it { should_not be_zero }
     its(:base) { should == Unit("1") }
   end
@@ -167,6 +176,7 @@
     it { should_not be_degree }
     it { should_not be_base }
     it { should_not be_unitless }
+    it { should_not be_counting }
     it { should_not be_zero }
     its(:base) { should == Unit("0.001 m") }
   end
@@ -183,6 +193,7 @@
     it { should_not be_degree }
     it { should_not be_base }
     it { should_not be_unitless }
+    it { should_not be_counting }
     it { should_not be_zero }
     its(:base) { should == Unit("1 kg*m^2/s^2") }
   end
@@ -198,6 +209,7 @@
     it { should_not be_degree }
     it { should be_base }
     it { should_not be_unitless }
+    it { should_not be_counting }
     it { should_not be_zero }
     its(:base) { should == Unit("10 m/s^2") }
   end
@@ -212,6 +224,7 @@
     it { should_not be_degree }
     it { should_not be_base }
     it { should_not be_unitless }
+    it { should_not be_counting }
     it { should_not be_zero }
     its(:base) { should be_within(Unit("0.01 m")).of Unit("1.6764 m") }
     specify { subject.to_s(:ft).should == %{5'6"} }
@@ -227,6 +240,7 @@
     it { should_not be_degree }
     it { should_not be_base }
     it { should_not be_unitless }
+    it { should_not be_counting }
     it { should_not be_zero }
     its(:base) { should be_within(Unit("0.01 kg")).of Unit("2.8633 kg") }
     specify { subject.to_s(:lbs).should == "6 lbs, 5 oz" }
@@ -242,6 +256,7 @@
     it { should be_degree }
     it { should_not be_base }
     it { should_not be_unitless }
+    it { should_not be_counting }
     it { should_not be_zero }
     its(:base) { should be_within(Unit("0.01 degK")).of Unit("373.15 tempK") }
     its(:temperature_scale) { should == "degC" }
@@ -257,6 +272,7 @@
     it { should_not be_degree }
     it { should be_base }
     it { should_not be_unitless }
+    it { should_not be_counting }
     it { should_not be_zero }
     its(:base) { should be_a(Numeric) }
     its(:temperature_scale) { should be_nil }
@@ -272,6 +288,7 @@
     it { should be_degree }
     it { should_not be_base }
     it { should_not be_unitless }
+    it { should_not be_counting }
     its(:base) { should be_within(Unit("0.01 degK")).of Unit("100 degK") }
   end
 
@@ -285,6 +302,7 @@
     it { should_not be_degree }
     it { should_not be_base }
     it { should_not be_unitless }
+    it { should be_counting }
     it { should_not be_zero }
     its(:base) { should be_a(Numeric) }
     its(:temperature_scale) { should be_nil }
@@ -300,6 +318,7 @@
     it { should_not be_degree }
     it { should_not be_base }
     it { should_not be_unitless }
+    it { should_not be_counting }
     it { should_not be_zero }
     its(:base) { should be_a(Numeric) }
     its(:temperature_scale) { should be_nil }
@@ -315,6 +334,7 @@
     it { should_not be_degree }
     it { should be_base }
     it { should_not be_unitless }
+    it { should_not be_counting }
     it { should_not be_zero }
     its(:base) { should be_a Numeric }
     its(:temperature_scale) { should be_nil }
@@ -330,6 +350,7 @@
     it { should_not be_degree }
     it { should_not be_base }
     it { should_not be_unitless }
+    it { should be_counting }
     it { should_not be_zero }
     its(:base) { should be_a Numeric }
     its(:temperature_scale) { should be_nil }
@@ -345,6 +366,7 @@
     it { should_not be_degree }
     it { should be_base }
     it { should_not be_unitless }
+    it { should_not be_counting }
     it { should_not be_zero }
     its(:base) { should be_a Numeric }
     its(:temperature_scale) { should be_nil }
@@ -360,6 +382,7 @@
     it { should_not be_degree }
     it { should be_base }
     it { should_not be_unitless }
+    it { should_not be_counting }
     it { should_not be_zero }
     its(:base) { should be_a Numeric }
     its(:temperature_scale) { should be_nil }
@@ -376,6 +399,7 @@
     it { should_not be_degree }
     it { should_not be_base }
     it { should_not be_unitless }
+    it { should_not be_counting }
     it { should_not be_zero }
     its(:base) { should be_a Numeric }
     its(:temperature_scale) { should be_nil }
@@ -392,6 +416,7 @@
     it { should_not be_degree }
     it { should_not be_base }
     it { should_not be_unitless }
+    it { should_not be_counting }
     it { should_not be_zero }
     its(:base) { should be_a Numeric }
     its(:temperature_scale) { should be_nil }
@@ -407,6 +432,7 @@
     it { should_not be_degree }
     it { should_not be_base }
     it { should_not be_unitless }
+    it { should_not be_counting }
     it { should_not be_zero }
     its(:base) { should be_a Numeric }
     its(:temperature_scale) { should be_nil }
@@ -423,6 +449,7 @@
     it { should_not be_degree }
     it { should_not be_base }
     it { should_not be_unitless }
+    it { should_not be_counting }
     it { should_not be_zero }
     its(:base) { should be_a Numeric }
     its(:temperature_scale) { should be_nil }
@@ -437,6 +464,7 @@
     it { should_not be_degree }
     it { should be_base }
     it { should_not be_unitless }
+    it { should_not be_counting }
     it { should_not be_zero }
     its(:base) { should be_a Numeric }
     its(:temperature_scale) { should be_nil }
@@ -451,6 +479,7 @@
     it { should_not be_degree }
     it { should be_base }
     it { should_not be_unitless }
+    it { should_not be_counting }
     it { should_not be_zero }
     its(:base) { should be_a Numeric }
     its(:temperature_scale) { should be_nil }
@@ -467,6 +496,7 @@
     it { should_not be_degree }
     it { should_not be_base }
     it { should_not be_unitless }
+    it { should be_counting }
     it { should_not be_zero }
     its(:base) { should be_a Numeric }
     its(:temperature_scale) { should be_nil }
@@ -1438,3 +1468,12 @@
     specify { ((p*v)/(n*r)).convert_to('tempK').should be_within(Unit("0.1 degK")).of(Unit("12027.2 tempK")) }
   end
 end
+
+describe 'comparing counting units' do
+  specify { Unit.new('3 dB').should_not eq(Unit.new('3 sr')) }
+  specify { Unit.new('3 sr').should_not eq(Unit.new('3 nt')) }
+  specify { Unit.new('3 nt').should_not eq(Unit.new('3 bp')) }
+  specify { Unit.new('3 bp').should_not eq(Unit.new('3 molecule')) }
+  specify { Unit.new('3 molecule').should_not eq(Unit.new('3 each')) }
+  specify { Unit.new('3 each').should_not eq(Unit.new('3')) }
+end