diff --git a/ssa/interp/interp.go b/ssa/interp/interp.go
index 0351f616..3c6a4255 100644
--- a/ssa/interp/interp.go
+++ b/ssa/interp/interp.go
@@ -32,9 +32,6 @@
 //
 // * map iteration is asymptotically inefficient.
 //
-// * the equivalence relation for structs doesn't skip over blank
-// fields.
-//
 // * the sizes of the int, uint and uintptr types in the target
 // program are assumed to be the same as those of the interpreter
 // itself.
@@ -163,7 +160,7 @@ func visitInstr(fr *frame, instr ssa.Instruction) continuation {
 		fr.env[instr] = unop(instr, fr.get(instr.X))
 
 	case *ssa.BinOp:
-		fr.env[instr] = binop(instr.Op, fr.get(instr.X), fr.get(instr.Y))
+		fr.env[instr] = binop(instr.Op, instr.X.Type(), fr.get(instr.X), fr.get(instr.Y))
 
 	case *ssa.Call:
 		fn, args := prepareCall(fr, &instr.Call)
diff --git a/ssa/interp/interp_test.go b/ssa/interp/interp_test.go
index 26619cfd..e92d26ab 100644
--- a/ssa/interp/interp_test.go
+++ b/ssa/interp/interp_test.go
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ func run(t *testing.T, dir, input string) bool {
 		}
 	}()
 
-	hint = fmt.Sprintf("To dump SSA representation, run:\n%% go build code.google.com/p/go.tools/cmd/ssadump; ./ssadump -build=CFP %s\n", input)
+	hint = fmt.Sprintf("To dump SSA representation, run:\n%% go build code.google.com/p/go.tools/cmd/ssadump && ./ssadump -build=CFP %s\n", input)
 	mainInfo := imp.LoadMainPackage(files...)
 
 	prog := ssa.NewProgram(imp.Fset, ssa.SanityCheckFunctions)
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ func run(t *testing.T, dir, input string) bool {
 	mainPkg := prog.Package(mainInfo.Pkg)
 	mainPkg.CreateTestMainFunction() // (no-op if main already exists)
 
-	hint = fmt.Sprintf("To trace execution, run:\n%% go build code.google.com/p/go.tools/cmd/ssadump; ./ssadump -build=C -run --interp=T %s\n", input)
+	hint = fmt.Sprintf("To trace execution, run:\n%% go build code.google.com/p/go.tools/cmd/ssadump && ./ssadump -build=C -run --interp=T %s\n", input)
 	if exitCode := interp.Interpret(mainPkg, 0, inputs[0], []string{}); exitCode != 0 {
 		t.Errorf("interp.Interpret(%s) exited with code %d, want zero", inputs, exitCode)
 		return false
diff --git a/ssa/interp/map.go b/ssa/interp/map.go
index b77bdfe6..5e93e7f7 100644
--- a/ssa/interp/map.go
+++ b/ssa/interp/map.go
@@ -16,8 +16,8 @@ import (
 )
 
 type hashable interface {
-	hash() int
-	eq(x interface{}) bool
+	hash(t types.Type) int
+	eq(t types.Type, x interface{}) bool
 }
 
 type entry struct {
@@ -31,8 +31,9 @@ type entry struct {
 // tests when walking the linked list.  Rehashing is done by the
 // underlying map.
 type hashmap struct {
-	table  map[int]*entry
-	length int // number of entries in map
+	keyType types.Type
+	table   map[int]*entry
+	length  int // number of entries in map
 }
 
 // makeMap returns an empty initialized map of key type kt,
@@ -41,23 +42,23 @@ func makeMap(kt types.Type, reserve int) value {
 	if usesBuiltinMap(kt) {
 		return make(map[value]value, reserve)
 	}
-	return &hashmap{table: make(map[int]*entry, reserve)}
+	return &hashmap{keyType: kt, table: make(map[int]*entry, reserve)}
 }
 
 // delete removes the association for key k, if any.
 func (m *hashmap) delete(k hashable) {
 	if m != nil {
-		hash := k.hash()
+		hash := k.hash(m.keyType)
 		head := m.table[hash]
 		if head != nil {
-			if k.eq(head.key) {
+			if k.eq(m.keyType, head.key) {
 				m.table[hash] = head.next
 				m.length--
 				return
 			}
 			prev := head
 			for e := head.next; e != nil; e = e.next {
-				if k.eq(e.key) {
+				if k.eq(m.keyType, e.key) {
 					prev.next = e.next
 					m.length--
 					return
@@ -72,9 +73,9 @@ func (m *hashmap) delete(k hashable) {
 // value(nil) otherwise.
 func (m *hashmap) lookup(k hashable) value {
 	if m != nil {
-		hash := k.hash()
+		hash := k.hash(m.keyType)
 		for e := m.table[hash]; e != nil; e = e.next {
-			if k.eq(e.key) {
+			if k.eq(m.keyType, e.key) {
 				return e.value
 			}
 		}
@@ -87,10 +88,10 @@ func (m *hashmap) lookup(k hashable) value {
 // k, the previous key remains in the map and its associated value is
 // updated.
 func (m *hashmap) insert(k hashable, v value) {
-	hash := k.hash()
+	hash := k.hash(m.keyType)
 	head := m.table[hash]
 	for e := head; e != nil; e = e.next {
-		if k.eq(e.key) {
+		if k.eq(m.keyType, e.key) {
 			e.value = v
 			return
 		}
diff --git a/ssa/interp/ops.go b/ssa/interp/ops.go
index 34661490..055e64df 100644
--- a/ssa/interp/ops.go
+++ b/ssa/interp/ops.go
@@ -301,7 +301,7 @@ func lookup(instr *ssa.Lookup, x, idx value) value {
 // numeric datatypes and strings.  Both operands must have identical
 // dynamic type.
 //
-func binop(op token.Token, x, y value) value {
+func binop(op token.Token, t types.Type, x, y value) value {
 	switch op {
 	case token.ADD:
 		switch x.(type) {
@@ -690,10 +690,10 @@ func binop(op token.Token, x, y value) value {
 		}
 
 	case token.EQL:
-		return equals(x, y)
+		return eqnil(t, x, y)
 
 	case token.NEQ:
-		return !equals(x, y)
+		return !eqnil(t, x, y)
 
 	case token.GTR:
 		switch x.(type) {
@@ -762,6 +762,39 @@ func binop(op token.Token, x, y value) value {
 	panic(fmt.Sprintf("invalid binary op: %T %s %T", x, op, y))
 }
 
+// eqnil returns the comparison x == y using the equivalence relation
+// appropriate for type t.
+// If t is a reference type, at most one of x or y may be a nil value
+// of that type.
+//
+func eqnil(t types.Type, x, y value) bool {
+	switch t.Underlying().(type) {
+	case *types.Map, *types.Signature, *types.Slice:
+		// Since these types don't support comparison,
+		// one of the operands must be a literal nil.
+		switch x := x.(type) {
+		case *hashmap:
+			return (x != nil) == (y.(*hashmap) != nil)
+		case map[value]value:
+			return (x != nil) == (y.(map[value]value) != nil)
+		case *ssa.Function:
+			switch y := y.(type) {
+			case *ssa.Function:
+				return (x != nil) == (y != nil)
+			case *closure:
+				return true
+			}
+		case *closure:
+			return (x != nil) == (y.(*ssa.Function) != nil)
+		case []value:
+			return (x != nil) == (y.([]value) != nil)
+		}
+		panic(fmt.Sprintf("eqnil(%s): illegal dynamic type: %T", t, x))
+	}
+
+	return equals(t, x, y)
+}
+
 func unop(instr *ssa.UnOp, x value) value {
 	switch instr.Op {
 	case token.ARROW: // receive
diff --git a/ssa/interp/testdata/coverage.go b/ssa/interp/testdata/coverage.go
index 682bfb31..00d8b4d3 100644
--- a/ssa/interp/testdata/coverage.go
+++ b/ssa/interp/testdata/coverage.go
@@ -377,14 +377,15 @@ func init() {
 
 // An I->I type-assert fails iff the value is nil.
 func init() {
-	defer func() {
-		r := fmt.Sprint(recover())
-		if r != "interface conversion: interface is nil, not main.I" {
-			panic("I->I type assertion succeeed for nil value")
-		}
-	}()
-	var x I
-	_ = x.(I)
+	// TODO(adonovan): temporarily disabled; see comment at bottom of file.
+	// defer func() {
+	// 	r := fmt.Sprint(recover())
+	// 	if r != "interface conversion: interface is nil, not main.I" {
+	// 		panic("I->I type assertion succeeed for nil value")
+	// 	}
+	// }()
+	// var x I
+	// _ = x.(I)
 }
 
 //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -503,3 +504,39 @@ func init() {
 		panic(deferCount) // defer call has not run!
 	}
 }
+
+func init() {
+	// Struct equivalence ignores blank fields.
+	type s struct{ x, _, z int }
+	s1 := s{x: 1, z: 3}
+	s2 := s{x: 1, z: 3}
+	if s1 != s2 {
+		panic("not equal")
+	}
+}
+
+func init() {
+	// A slice var can be compared to const []T nil.
+	var i interface{} = []string{"foo"}
+	var j interface{} = []string(nil)
+	if i.([]string) == nil {
+		panic("expected i non-nil")
+	}
+	if j.([]string) != nil {
+		panic("expected j nil")
+	}
+	// But two slices cannot be compared, even if one is nil.
+	defer func() {
+		r := fmt.Sprint(recover())
+		if r != "runtime error: comparing uncomparable type []string" {
+			panic("want panic from slice comparison, got " + r)
+		}
+	}()
+	_ = i == j // interface comparison recurses on types
+}
+
+// TODO(adonovan): fix: the interpreter doesn't correctly implement
+// defer/recover in an init function concatenated from many parts: the
+// first recover causes the entire init() to return, not jump to the
+// next part.  This will be fixed in a follow-up CL.  Until then,
+// beware: adding new init() functions here will have no effect!
diff --git a/ssa/interp/value.go b/ssa/interp/value.go
index 654e16d2..038fabc1 100644
--- a/ssa/interp/value.go
+++ b/ssa/interp/value.go
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ package interp
 // - array --- arrays.
 // - *value --- pointers.  Careful: *value is a distinct type from *array etc.
 // - *ssa.Function \
-//   *ssa.Builtin   } --- functions.
+//   *ssa.Builtin   } --- functions.  A nil 'func' is always of type *ssa.Function.
 //   *closure      /
 // - tuple --- as returned by Ret, Next, "value,ok" modes, etc.
 // - iter --- iterators from 'range' over map or string.
@@ -39,9 +39,11 @@ import (
 	"io"
 	"reflect"
 	"strings"
+	"sync"
 	"unsafe"
 
 	"code.google.com/p/go.tools/go/types"
+	"code.google.com/p/go.tools/go/types/typemap"
 	"code.google.com/p/go.tools/ssa"
 )
 
@@ -88,13 +90,18 @@ func hashString(s string) int {
 	return int(h)
 }
 
+var (
+	mu     sync.Mutex
+	hasher = typemap.MakeHasher()
+)
+
 // hashType returns a hash for t such that
 // types.IsIdentical(x, y) => hashType(x) == hashType(y).
 func hashType(t types.Type) int {
-	// TODO(adonovan): fix: not sound!  "IsIdentical" Signatures
-	// may have different parameter names; use typemap.Hasher when
-	// available.
-	return hashString(t.String()) // TODO(gri): provide a better hash
+	mu.Lock()
+	h := int(hasher.Hash(t))
+	mu.Unlock()
+	return h
 }
 
 // usesBuiltinMap returns true if the built-in hash function and
@@ -118,67 +125,72 @@ func usesBuiltinMap(t types.Type) bool {
 	panic(fmt.Sprintf("invalid map key type: %T", t))
 }
 
-func (x array) eq(_y interface{}) bool {
+func (x array) eq(t types.Type, _y interface{}) bool {
 	y := _y.(array)
+	tElt := t.Underlying().(*types.Array).Elem()
 	for i, xi := range x {
-		if !equals(xi, y[i]) {
+		if !equals(tElt, xi, y[i]) {
 			return false
 		}
 	}
 	return true
 }
 
-func (x array) hash() int {
+func (x array) hash(t types.Type) int {
 	h := 0
+	tElt := t.Underlying().(*types.Array).Elem()
 	for _, xi := range x {
-		h += hash(xi)
+		h += hash(tElt, xi)
 	}
 	return h
 }
 
-func (x structure) eq(_y interface{}) bool {
+func (x structure) eq(t types.Type, _y interface{}) bool {
 	y := _y.(structure)
-	// TODO(adonovan): fix: only non-blank fields should be
-	// compared.  This requires that we have type information
-	// available from the enclosing == operation or map access;
-	// the value is not sufficient.
-	for i, xi := range x {
-		if !equals(xi, y[i]) {
-			return false
+	tStruct := t.Underlying().(*types.Struct)
+	for i, n := 0, tStruct.NumFields(); i < n; i++ {
+		if f := tStruct.Field(i); !f.Anonymous() {
+			if !equals(f.Type(), x[i], y[i]) {
+				return false
+			}
 		}
 	}
 	return true
 }
 
-func (x structure) hash() int {
+func (x structure) hash(t types.Type) int {
+	tStruct := t.Underlying().(*types.Struct)
 	h := 0
-	for _, xi := range x {
-		h += hash(xi)
+	for i, n := 0, tStruct.NumFields(); i < n; i++ {
+		if f := tStruct.Field(i); !f.Anonymous() {
+			h += hash(f.Type(), x[i])
+		}
 	}
 	return h
 }
 
-func (x iface) eq(_y interface{}) bool {
+func (x iface) eq(t types.Type, _y interface{}) bool {
 	y := _y.(iface)
-	return types.IsIdentical(x.t, y.t) && (x.t == nil || equals(x.v, y.v))
+	return types.IsIdentical(x.t, y.t) && (x.t == nil || equals(x.t, x.v, y.v))
 }
 
-func (x iface) hash() int {
-	return hashType(x.t)*8581 + hash(x.v)
+func (x iface) hash(_ types.Type) int {
+	return hashType(x.t)*8581 + hash(x.t, x.v)
 }
 
-func (x rtype) hash() int {
+func (x rtype) hash(_ types.Type) int {
 	return hashType(x.t)
 }
 
-func (x rtype) eq(y interface{}) bool {
+func (x rtype) eq(_ types.Type, y interface{}) bool {
 	return types.IsIdentical(x.t, y.(rtype).t)
 }
 
 // equals returns true iff x and y are equal according to Go's
-// linguistic equivalence relation.  In a well-typed program, the
-// types of x and y are guaranteed equal.
-func equals(x, y value) bool {
+// linguistic equivalence relation for type t.
+// In a well-typed program, the dynamic types of x and y are
+// guaranteed equal.
+func equals(t types.Type, x, y value) bool {
 	switch x := x.(type) {
 	case bool:
 		return x == y.(bool)
@@ -219,31 +231,23 @@ func equals(x, y value) bool {
 	case chan value:
 		return x == y.(chan value)
 	case structure:
-		return x.eq(y)
+		return x.eq(t, y)
 	case array:
-		return x.eq(y)
+		return x.eq(t, y)
 	case iface:
-		return x.eq(y)
+		return x.eq(t, y)
 	case rtype:
-		return x.eq(y)
-
-		// Since the following types don't support comparison,
-		// these cases are only reachable if one of x or y is
-		// (literally) nil.
-	case *hashmap:
-		return x == y.(*hashmap)
-	case map[value]value:
-		return (x != nil) == (y.(map[value]value) != nil)
-	case *ssa.Function, *closure:
-		return x == y
-	case []value:
-		return (x != nil) == (y.([]value) != nil)
+		return x.eq(t, y)
 	}
-	panic(fmt.Sprintf("comparing incomparable type %T", x))
+
+	// Since map, func and slice don't support comparison, this
+	// case is only reachable if one of x or y is literally nil
+	// (handled in eqnil) or via interface{} values.
+	panic(fmt.Sprintf("runtime error: comparing uncomparable type %s", t))
 }
 
 // Returns an integer hash of x such that equals(x, y) => hash(x) == hash(y).
-func hash(x value) int {
+func hash(t types.Type, x value) int {
 	switch x := x.(type) {
 	case bool:
 		if x {
@@ -287,13 +291,13 @@ func hash(x value) int {
 	case chan value:
 		return int(uintptr(reflect.ValueOf(x).Pointer()))
 	case structure:
-		return x.hash()
+		return x.hash(t)
 	case array:
-		return x.hash()
+		return x.hash(t)
 	case iface:
-		return x.hash()
+		return x.hash(t)
 	case rtype:
-		return x.hash()
+		return x.hash(t)
 	}
 	panic(fmt.Sprintf("%T is unhashable", x))
 }