diff --git a/source/is-equal.d.ts b/source/is-equal.d.ts
index 646f0fb7b..0bb0d9d51 100644
--- a/source/is-equal.d.ts
+++ b/source/is-equal.d.ts
@@ -26,8 +26,14 @@ type Includes<Value extends readonly any[], Item> =
 @category Utilities
 */
 export type IsEqual<A, B> =
-	[A, B] extends [infer A, infer B]
-		? _IsEqual<A, B>
+	[A, B] extends [infer AA, infer BB]
+		? [AA] extends [never]
+			? [BB] extends [never]
+				? true
+				: false
+			: [BB] extends [never]
+				? false
+				: _IsEqual<AA, BB>
 		: false;
 
 // This version fails the `equalWrappedTupleIntersectionToBeNeverAndNeverExpanded` test in `test-d/is-equal.ts`.
diff --git a/test-d/is-equal.ts b/test-d/is-equal.ts
index a8f170440..1e731574b 100644
--- a/test-d/is-equal.ts
+++ b/test-d/is-equal.ts
@@ -15,6 +15,10 @@ expectType<true>({} as IsEqual<never, never>);
 expectType<false>({} as IsEqual<any, never>);
 expectType<false>({} as IsEqual<never, any>);
 expectType<false>({} as IsEqual<any, unknown>);
+expectType<false>({} as IsEqual<never, unknown>);
+expectType<false>({} as IsEqual<unknown, never>);
+expectType<false>({} as IsEqual<[never], [unknown]>);
+expectType<false>({} as IsEqual<[unknown], [never]>);
 expectType<false>({} as IsEqual<[any], [never]>);
 expectType<true>({} as IsEqual<[any], [any]>);
 expectType<true>({} as IsEqual<[never], [never]>);