diff --git a/src/pow/tromp/equi.h b/src/pow/tromp/equi.h
index f6d8803c2..84e566e1a 100644
--- a/src/pow/tromp/equi.h
+++ b/src/pow/tromp/equi.h
@@ -75,8 +75,14 @@ int verifyrec(const crypto_generichash_blake2b_state *ctx, u32 *indices, uchar *
 }
 
 int compu32(const void *pa, const void *pb) {
+    int32_t retval;
   u32 a = *(u32 *)pa, b = *(u32 *)pb;
-  return a<b ? -1 : a==b ? 0 : +1;
+  retval = a<b ? -1 : a==b ? 0 : +1;
+    if ( retval != 0 )
+        return(retval);
+    else if ( (uint64_t)pa < (uint64_t)pb ) // jl777 prevent nondeterminism
+        return(-1);
+    else return(1);
 }
 
 bool duped(proof prf) {