diff --git a/modules/net_dns.cc b/modules/net_dns.cc
index 3b7ba7026..ef2825a4c 100644
--- a/modules/net_dns.cc
+++ b/modules/net_dns.cc
@@ -129,8 +129,7 @@ ircd::net::dns::resolve(const hostport &hp,
 		std::count_if(begin(cache::waiting), end(cache::waiting), []
 		(const auto &a)
 		{
-			const auto &b(cache::waiting.back());
-			return a.opts.qtype == b.opts.qtype && a.key == b.key;
+			return a == cache::waiting.back();
 		})
 	};
 
@@ -968,6 +967,24 @@ catch(const std::exception &e)
 // cache::waiter
 //
 
+bool
+ircd::net::dns::cache::operator==(const waiter &a, const waiter &b)
+{
+	return a.opts.qtype == b.opts.qtype &&
+	       a.key && b.key &&
+	       a.key == b.key;
+}
+
+bool
+ircd::net::dns::cache::operator!=(const waiter &a, const waiter &b)
+{
+	return !operator==(a, b);
+}
+
+//
+// cache::waiter::waiter
+//
+
 ircd::net::dns::cache::waiter::waiter(const hostport &hp,
                                       const dns::opts &opts,
                                       dns::callback &&callback)
diff --git a/modules/net_dns.h b/modules/net_dns.h
index cfcc93f31..db073150a 100644
--- a/modules/net_dns.h
+++ b/modules/net_dns.h
@@ -37,6 +37,9 @@ namespace ircd::net::dns::cache
 {
 	struct waiter;
 
+	static bool operator==(const waiter &, const waiter &);
+	static bool operator!=(const waiter &, const waiter &);
+
 	static bool call_waiter(const string_view &, const string_view &, const json::array &, waiter &);
 	static size_t call_waiters(const string_view &, const string_view &, const json::array &);
 	static void handle(const m::event &, m::vm::eval &);