diff --git a/include/ircd/db/comparator.h b/include/ircd/db/comparator.h
index e61136cd1..311c94b31 100644
--- a/include/ircd/db/comparator.h
+++ b/include/ircd/db/comparator.h
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ struct ircd::db::comparator
 
 	string_view name;
 	less_function *less {nullptr};
-	std::function<equal_function> equal;
+	equal_function *equal {nullptr};
 	std::function<separator_function> separator;
 	std::function<successor_function> successor;
 	bool hashable {true};
diff --git a/matrix/dbs_event_refs.cc b/matrix/dbs_event_refs.cc
index f365e6bae..87134a221 100644
--- a/matrix/dbs_event_refs.cc
+++ b/matrix/dbs_event_refs.cc
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ ircd::m::dbs::desc::event_refs__cmp
 {
 	"_event_refs",
 	event_refs__cmp_less,
-	std::equal_to<string_view>{},
+	db::cmp_string_view::equal,
 };
 
 const ircd::db::descriptor
diff --git a/matrix/dbs_event_state.cc b/matrix/dbs_event_state.cc
index 74b148ea7..465813bd3 100644
--- a/matrix/dbs_event_state.cc
+++ b/matrix/dbs_event_state.cc
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ ircd::m::dbs::desc::event_state__cmp
 {
 	"_event_state",
 	event_state__cmp_lt,
-	std::equal_to<string_view>{},
+	db::cmp_string_view::equal,
 };
 
 const ircd::db::descriptor
diff --git a/matrix/dbs_room_events.cc b/matrix/dbs_room_events.cc
index ab6cc12b3..f5c3304d0 100644
--- a/matrix/dbs_room_events.cc
+++ b/matrix/dbs_room_events.cc
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ ircd::m::dbs::desc::room_events__cmp
 {
 	"_room_events",
 	room_events__cmp_lt,
-	std::equal_to<string_view>{},
+	db::cmp_string_view::equal,
 };
 
 /// This column stores events in sequence in a room. Consider the following:
diff --git a/matrix/dbs_room_state_space.cc b/matrix/dbs_room_state_space.cc
index 9117c3ea6..44539893d 100644
--- a/matrix/dbs_room_state_space.cc
+++ b/matrix/dbs_room_state_space.cc
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ ircd::m::dbs::desc::room_state_space__cmp
 {
 	"_room_state_space",
 	room_state_space__cmp_lt,
-	std::equal_to<string_view>{},
+	db::cmp_string_view::equal,
 };
 
 const ircd::db::prefix_transform
diff --git a/matrix/dbs_room_type.cc b/matrix/dbs_room_type.cc
index d11bf5222..309be76ea 100644
--- a/matrix/dbs_room_type.cc
+++ b/matrix/dbs_room_type.cc
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ ircd::m::dbs::desc::room_type__cmp
 {
 	"_room_type",
 	room_type__cmp_lt,
-	std::equal_to<string_view>{},
+	db::cmp_string_view::equal,
 };
 
 /// This column stores events by type in sequence in a room. Consider the