diff --git a/configuration.c b/configuration.c
index 031edd0d35..d94002be54 100644
--- a/configuration.c
+++ b/configuration.c
@@ -1343,7 +1343,7 @@ static bool config_load_file(const char *path, bool set_defaults)
          &settings->menu.title_color);
    config_get_path(conf, "menu_wallpaper",
          settings->menu.wallpaper, sizeof(settings->menu.wallpaper));
-   if (!strcmp(settings->menu.wallpaper, "default"))
+   if (string_is_equal(settings->menu.wallpaper, "default"))
       *settings->menu.wallpaper = '\0';
 #endif
 
@@ -1416,15 +1416,15 @@ static bool config_load_file(const char *path, bool set_defaults)
    CONFIG_GET_BOOL_BASE(conf, settings, video.gpu_screenshot, "video_gpu_screenshot");
 
    config_get_path(conf, "video_shader_dir", settings->video.shader_dir, sizeof(settings->video.shader_dir));
-   if (!strcmp(settings->video.shader_dir, "default"))
+   if (string_is_equal(settings->video.shader_dir, "default"))
       *settings->video.shader_dir = '\0';
 
    config_get_path(conf, "video_filter_dir", settings->video.filter_dir, sizeof(settings->video.filter_dir));
-   if (!strcmp(settings->video.filter_dir, "default"))
+   if (string_is_equal(settings->video.filter_dir, "default"))
       *settings->video.filter_dir = '\0';
 
    config_get_path(conf, "audio_filter_dir", settings->audio.filter_dir, sizeof(settings->audio.filter_dir));
-   if (!strcmp(settings->audio.filter_dir, "default"))
+   if (string_is_equal(settings->audio.filter_dir, "default"))
       *settings->audio.filter_dir = '\0';
 
    CONFIG_GET_BOOL_BASE(conf, settings, input.back_as_menu_toggle_enable, "back_as_menu_toggle_enable");
@@ -1547,7 +1547,7 @@ static bool config_load_file(const char *path, bool set_defaults)
    config_get_path(conf, "screenshot_directory", settings->screenshot_directory, sizeof(settings->screenshot_directory));
    if (*settings->screenshot_directory)
    {
-      if (!strcmp(settings->screenshot_directory, "default"))
+      if (string_is_equal(settings->screenshot_directory, "default"))
          *settings->screenshot_directory = '\0';
       else if (!path_is_directory(settings->screenshot_directory))
       {
@@ -1574,24 +1574,24 @@ static bool config_load_file(const char *path, bool set_defaults)
          sizeof(settings->boxarts_directory));
    config_get_path(conf, "playlist_directory", settings->playlist_directory,
          sizeof(settings->playlist_directory));
-   if (!strcmp(settings->core_assets_directory, "default"))
+   if (string_is_equal(settings->core_assets_directory, "default"))
       *settings->core_assets_directory = '\0';
-   if (!strcmp(settings->assets_directory, "default"))
+   if (string_is_equal(settings->assets_directory, "default"))
       *settings->assets_directory = '\0';
-   if (!strcmp(settings->dynamic_wallpapers_directory, "default"))
+   if (string_is_equal(settings->dynamic_wallpapers_directory, "default"))
       *settings->dynamic_wallpapers_directory = '\0';
-   if (!strcmp(settings->boxarts_directory, "default"))
+   if (string_is_equal(settings->boxarts_directory, "default"))
       *settings->boxarts_directory = '\0';
-   if (!strcmp(settings->playlist_directory, "default"))
+   if (string_is_equal(settings->playlist_directory, "default"))
       *settings->playlist_directory = '\0';
 #ifdef HAVE_MENU
    config_get_path(conf, "rgui_browser_directory", settings->menu_content_directory,
          sizeof(settings->menu_content_directory));
-   if (!strcmp(settings->menu_content_directory, "default"))
+   if (string_is_equal(settings->menu_content_directory, "default"))
       *settings->menu_content_directory = '\0';
    config_get_path(conf, "rgui_config_directory", settings->menu_config_directory,
          sizeof(settings->menu_config_directory));
-   if (!strcmp(settings->menu_config_directory, "default"))
+   if (string_is_equal(settings->menu_config_directory, "default"))
       *settings->menu_config_directory = '\0';
    CONFIG_GET_BOOL_BASE(conf, settings, menu_show_start_screen, "rgui_show_start_screen");
 #endif
@@ -1631,7 +1631,7 @@ static bool config_load_file(const char *path, bool set_defaults)
 
 #ifdef HAVE_OVERLAY
    config_get_path(conf, "overlay_directory", settings->overlay_directory, sizeof(settings->overlay_directory));
-   if (!strcmp(settings->overlay_directory, "default"))
+   if (string_is_equal(settings->overlay_directory, "default"))
       *settings->overlay_directory = '\0';
 
    config_get_path(conf, "input_overlay", settings->input.overlay, sizeof(settings->input.overlay));
@@ -1642,7 +1642,7 @@ static bool config_load_file(const char *path, bool set_defaults)
    CONFIG_GET_FLOAT_BASE(conf, settings, input.overlay_scale, "input_overlay_scale");
 
    config_get_path(conf, "osk_overlay_directory", global->dir.osk_overlay, sizeof(global->dir.osk_overlay));
-   if (!strcmp(global->dir.osk_overlay, "default"))
+   if (string_is_equal(global->dir.osk_overlay, "default"))
       *global->dir.osk_overlay = '\0';
 
    config_get_path(conf, "input_osk_overlay", settings->osk.overlay, sizeof(settings->osk.overlay));
@@ -1752,7 +1752,7 @@ static bool config_load_file(const char *path, bool set_defaults)
    if (!global->has_set.save_path &&
          config_get_path(conf, "savefile_directory", tmp_str, sizeof(tmp_str)))
    {
-      if (!strcmp(tmp_str, "default"))
+      if (string_is_equal(tmp_str, "default"))
          strlcpy(global->dir.savefile, g_defaults.dir.sram,
                sizeof(global->dir.savefile));
       else if (path_is_directory(tmp_str))
@@ -1771,7 +1771,7 @@ static bool config_load_file(const char *path, bool set_defaults)
    if (!global->has_set.state_path &&
          config_get_path(conf, "savestate_directory", tmp_str, sizeof(tmp_str)))
    {
-      if (!strcmp(tmp_str, "default"))
+      if (string_is_equal(tmp_str, "default"))
          strlcpy(global->dir.savestate, g_defaults.dir.savestate,
                sizeof(global->dir.savestate));
       else if (path_is_directory(tmp_str))
@@ -1811,7 +1811,7 @@ static bool config_load_file(const char *path, bool set_defaults)
       *settings->system_directory = '\0';
    }
 
-   if (!strcmp(settings->system_directory, "default"))
+   if (string_is_equal(settings->system_directory, "default"))
    {
       RARCH_WARN("SYSTEM DIR is empty, assume CONTENT DIR\n");
       *settings->system_directory = '\0';
@@ -1941,7 +1941,7 @@ bool config_load_override(void)
    }
 
    /* Early return in case a library isn't loaded */
-   if (string_is_empty(system->info.library_name) || !strcmp(system->info.library_name,"No Core"))
+   if (string_is_empty(system->info.library_name) || string_is_equal(system->info.library_name, "No Core"))
       return false;
 
    core_name = system ? system->info.library_name : NULL;
@@ -2123,7 +2123,7 @@ bool config_load_remap(void)
    runloop_ctl(RUNLOOP_CTL_SYSTEM_INFO_GET, &system);
 
    /* Early return in case a library isn't loaded or remapping is disabled */
-   if (!system->info.library_name || !strcmp(system->info.library_name,"No Core"))
+   if (!system->info.library_name || string_is_equal(system->info.library_name,"No Core"))
       return false;
 
    core_name = system ? system->info.library_name : NULL;
diff --git a/core_info.c b/core_info.c
index 4554c7d41b..2106b219ef 100644
--- a/core_info.c
+++ b/core_info.c
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@
 #include <file/file_path.h>
 #include <file/file_extract.h>
 
+#include <string/stdstring.h>
+
 #include "core_info.h"
 #include "general.h"
 #include "dir_list_special.h"
@@ -136,7 +138,7 @@ void core_info_get_name(const char *path, char *s, size_t len)
       if (!core_info[i].path)
          break;
 
-      if (strcmp(core_info[i].path, path) != 0)
+      if (!string_is_equal(core_info[i].path, path))
             continue;
 
       fill_pathname_base(info_path_base, contents->elems[i].data,
@@ -377,7 +379,7 @@ bool core_info_list_get_display_name(core_info_list_t *core_info_list,
    for (i = 0; i < core_info_list->count; i++)
    {
       const core_info_t *info = &core_info_list->list[i];
-      if (!strcmp(path_basename(info->path), path_basename(path))
+      if (string_is_equal(path_basename(info->path), path_basename(path))
             && info->display_name)
       {
          strlcpy(buf, info->display_name, size);
@@ -440,7 +442,8 @@ bool core_info_list_get_info(core_info_list_t *core_info_list,
    for (i = 0; i < core_info_list->count; i++)
    {
       const core_info_t *info = &core_info_list->list[i];
-      if (!strcmp(path_basename(info->path), path_basename(path)))
+
+      if (string_is_equal(path_basename(info->path), path_basename(path)))
       {
          *out_info = *info;
          return true;
@@ -559,11 +562,9 @@ core_info_t *core_info_find(core_info_list_t *list,
    {
       core_info_t *info = (core_info_t*)&list->list[i];
 
-      if (!info)
+      if (!info || !info->path)
          continue;
-      if (!info->path)
-         continue;
-      if (!strcmp(info->path, core))
+      if (string_is_equal(info->path, core))
          return info;
    }
 
diff --git a/core_options.c b/core_options.c
index db8b4ef61e..87e31544bb 100644
--- a/core_options.c
+++ b/core_options.c
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 #include <compat/posix_string.h>
 #include <compat/strl.h>
 #include <retro_miscellaneous.h>
+#include <string/stdstring.h>
 
 #include "core_options.h"
 
@@ -79,7 +80,7 @@ void core_option_get(core_option_manager_t *opt, struct retro_variable *var)
 
    for (i = 0; i < opt->size; i++)
    {
-      if (!strcmp(opt->opts[i].key, var->key))
+      if (string_is_equal(opt->opts[i].key, var->key))
       {
          var->value = core_option_get_val(opt, i);
          return;
@@ -129,7 +130,7 @@ static bool parse_variable(core_option_manager_t *opt, size_t idx,
 
       for (i = 0; i < option->vals->size; i++)
       {
-         if (!strcmp(option->vals->elems[i].data, config_val))
+         if (string_is_equal(option->vals->elems[i].data, config_val))
          {
             option->index = i;
             break;
diff --git a/driver.c b/driver.c
index b67b01e2b0..6594496c9a 100644
--- a/driver.c
+++ b/driver.c
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ bool find_prev_driver(const char *label, char *s, size_t len)
 bool find_next_driver(const char *label, char *s, size_t len)
 {
    int i = find_driver_index(label, s);
-   if (i >= 0 && (strcmp(s, "null") != 0))
+   if (i >= 0 && !string_is_equal(s, "null"))
       find_driver_nonempty(label, i + 1, s, len);
    else
    {
diff --git a/dynamic.c b/dynamic.c
index 972523f71e..dc65b792a5 100644
--- a/dynamic.c
+++ b/dynamic.c
@@ -213,9 +213,9 @@ const struct retro_subsystem_info *libretro_find_subsystem_info(
    unsigned i;
    for (i = 0; i < num_info; i++)
    {
-      if (!strcmp(info[i].ident, ident))
+      if (string_is_equal(info[i].ident, ident))
          return &info[i];
-      else if (!strcmp(info[i].desc, ident))
+      else if (string_is_equal(info[i].desc, ident))
          return &info[i];
    }
 
diff --git a/file_ops.c b/file_ops.c
index 6be65623eb..b1b6330899 100644
--- a/file_ops.c
+++ b/file_ops.c
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 #include <file/file_path.h>
 #include <retro_file.h>
 #include <string/string_list.h>
+#include <string/stdstring.h>
 #ifdef HAVE_COMPRESSION
 #include <file/file_extract.h>
 #endif
@@ -162,7 +163,7 @@ static int read_7zip_file(
          SzArEx_GetFileNameUtf16(&db, i, temp);
          res = utf16_to_char_string(temp, infile, sizeof(infile)) ? SZ_OK : SZ_ERROR_FAIL;
 
-         if (!strcmp(infile, relative_path))
+         if (string_is_equal(infile, relative_path))
          {
             /* C LZMA SDK does not support chunked extraction - see here:
              * sourceforge.net/p/sevenzip/discussion/45798/thread/6fb59aaf/
@@ -399,7 +400,7 @@ static int read_zip_file(const char *archive_path,
 
       /* We skip directories */
       if ( last_char == '/' || last_char == '\\' ) { }
-      else if (!strcmp(filename, relative_path))
+      else if (string_is_equal(filename, relative_path))
       {
          /* We found the correct file in the zip, 
           * now extract it to *buf. */
diff --git a/gfx/video_shader_parse.c b/gfx/video_shader_parse.c
index 93f760ac85..37bca58418 100644
--- a/gfx/video_shader_parse.c
+++ b/gfx/video_shader_parse.c
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 #include <compat/strl.h>
 #include <file/file_path.h>
 #include <rhash.h>
+#include <string/stdstring.h>
 
 #include "../general.h"
 #include "../verbosity.h"
@@ -369,7 +370,7 @@ static struct video_shader_parameter *video_shader_parse_find_parameter(
 
    for (i = 0; i < num_params; i++)
    {
-      if (!strcmp(params[i].id, id))
+      if (string_is_equal(params[i].id, id))
          return &params[i];
    }
 
@@ -915,9 +916,9 @@ enum rarch_shader_type video_shader_parse_type(const char *path,
 
    ext = path_get_extension(path);
 
-   if (!strcmp(ext, "cg") || !strcmp(ext, "cgp"))
+   if (string_is_equal(ext, "cg") || string_is_equal(ext, "cgp"))
       return RARCH_SHADER_CG;
-   else if (!strcmp(ext, "glslp") || !strcmp(ext, "glsl"))
+   else if (string_is_equal(ext, "glslp") || string_is_equal(ext, "glsl"))
       return RARCH_SHADER_GLSL;
 
    return fallback;
diff --git a/input/connect/joypad_connection.c b/input/connect/joypad_connection.c
index c780963c3b..87959afea5 100644
--- a/input/connect/joypad_connection.c
+++ b/input/connect/joypad_connection.c
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <string.h>
 
+#include <string/stdstring.h>
+
 #include "../input_config.h"
 
 #include "joypad_connection.h"
@@ -100,7 +102,7 @@ int32_t pad_connection_pad_init(joypad_connection_t *joyconn,
 
          if(pad_map[i].vid == 1406 && pad_map[i].pid == 816)  /* Never change, Nintendo. */
          {
-            if(strcmp(pad_map[i].name, name) != 0)
+            if(!string_is_equal(pad_map[i].name, name))
                continue;
          }
 
diff --git a/input/input_autodetect.c b/input/input_autodetect.c
index e82a5cfa11..b97ee463dd 100644
--- a/input/input_autodetect.c
+++ b/input/input_autodetect.c
@@ -46,8 +46,8 @@ static void input_reindex_devices()
 
       for(j = 0; j < settings->input.max_users; j++)
       {
-         if(!strcmp(tmp,settings->input.device_names[j])
-               && settings->input.device_name_index[i]==0)
+         if(string_is_equal(tmp, settings->input.device_names[j])
+               && settings->input.device_name_index[i] == 0)
             settings->input.device_name_index[j]=k++;
       }
    }
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ static int input_try_autoconfigure_joypad_from_conf(config_file_t *conf,
    }
 
    /* Check for name match */
-   if (!strcmp(ident, params->name))
+   if (string_is_equal(ident, params->name))
    {
       score += 2;
 #if 0
@@ -146,14 +146,10 @@ static void input_autoconfigure_joypad_add(config_file_t *conf, autoconfig_param
    input_autoconfigure_joypad_conf(conf,
          settings->input.autoconf_binds[params->idx]);
 
-   if (!strcmp(device_type,"remote"))
+   if (string_is_equal(device_type,"remote"))
    {
-      if (!string_is_empty(display_name) || strcmp(display_name, ""))
-         snprintf(msg, sizeof(msg), "%s configured",
-            display_name);
-      else
-         snprintf(msg, sizeof(msg), "%s configured",
-            params->name);
+      snprintf(msg, sizeof(msg), "%s configured",
+            string_is_empty(display_name) ? params->name : display_name);
 
       if(!remote_is_bound)
          runloop_msg_queue_push(msg, 0, 60, false);
@@ -161,12 +157,10 @@ static void input_autoconfigure_joypad_add(config_file_t *conf, autoconfig_param
    }
    else
    {
-      if (!string_is_empty(display_name) || strcmp(display_name, ""))
-         snprintf(msg, sizeof(msg), "%s configured in port #%u.",
-               display_name, params->idx);
-      else
-         snprintf(msg, sizeof(msg), "%s configured in port #%u.",
-               params->name, params->idx);
+      snprintf(msg, sizeof(msg), "%s configured in port #%u.",
+            string_is_empty(display_name) ? params->name : display_name,
+            params->idx);
+
       if (!block_osd_spam)
           runloop_msg_queue_push(msg, 0, 60, false);
    }
diff --git a/input/input_config.c b/input/input_config.c
index 2e1a133c34..e9c52aabb8 100644
--- a/input/input_config.c
+++ b/input/input_config.c
@@ -240,8 +240,9 @@ unsigned input_config_translate_str_to_bind_id(const char *str)
    unsigned i;
 
    for (i = 0; input_config_bind_map[i].valid; i++)
-      if (!strcmp(str, input_config_bind_map[i].base))
+      if (string_is_equal(str, input_config_bind_map[i].base))
          return i;
+
    return RARCH_BIND_LIST_END;
 }
 
@@ -294,7 +295,7 @@ void input_config_parse_joy_button(config_file_t *conf, const char *prefix,
    if (config_get_array(conf, key, tmp, sizeof(tmp)))
    {
       btn = tmp;
-      if (!strcmp(btn, "nul"))
+      if (string_is_equal(btn, "nul"))
          bind->joykey = NO_BTN;
       else
       {
@@ -327,7 +328,7 @@ void input_config_parse_joy_axis(config_file_t *conf, const char *prefix,
 
    if (config_get_array(conf, key, tmp, sizeof(tmp)))
    {
-      if (!strcmp(tmp, "nul"))
+      if (string_is_equal(tmp, "nul"))
          bind->joyaxis = AXIS_NONE;
       else if (strlen(tmp) >= 2 && (*tmp == '+' || *tmp == '-'))
       {
@@ -436,7 +437,7 @@ void input_config_get_bind_string(char *buf, const struct retro_keybind *bind,
 
 #ifndef RARCH_CONSOLE
    input_keymaps_translate_rk_to_str(bind->key, key, sizeof(key));
-   if (!strcmp(key, "nul"))
+   if (string_is_equal(key, "nul"))
       *key = '\0';
 
    snprintf(keybuf, sizeof(keybuf), "(Key: %s)", key);
diff --git a/input/input_joypad_driver.c b/input/input_joypad_driver.c
index 8e1ebf1101..d7931249fd 100644
--- a/input/input_joypad_driver.c
+++ b/input/input_joypad_driver.c
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@
 #include <string.h>
 #include <ctype.h>
 
+#include <string/stdstring.h>
+
 #include "input_keymaps.h"
 #include "../general.h"
 #include "../string_list_special.h"
@@ -132,7 +134,7 @@ const input_device_driver_t *input_joypad_init_driver(const char *ident, void *d
 
    for (i = 0; joypad_drivers[i]; i++)
    {
-      if (!strcmp(ident, joypad_drivers[i]->ident)
+      if (string_is_equal(ident, joypad_drivers[i]->ident)
             && joypad_drivers[i]->init(data))
       {
          RARCH_LOG("Found joypad driver: \"%s\".\n",
diff --git a/libretro-common/include/string/stdstring.h b/libretro-common/include/string/stdstring.h
index ce40cc24c3..036041e877 100644
--- a/libretro-common/include/string/stdstring.h
+++ b/libretro-common/include/string/stdstring.h
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@ extern "C" {
 
 bool string_is_empty(const char *data);
 
+bool string_is_equal(const char *a, const char *b);
+
 char *string_to_upper(char *s);
 
 char *string_to_lower(char *s);
diff --git a/libretro-common/string/stdstring.c b/libretro-common/string/stdstring.c
index ffe099d44a..2c8f5ef126 100644
--- a/libretro-common/string/stdstring.c
+++ b/libretro-common/string/stdstring.c
@@ -37,6 +37,13 @@ bool string_is_empty(const char *data)
 	return false;
 }
 
+bool string_is_equal(const char *a, const char *b)
+{
+   if (!a || !b)
+      return false;
+   return (strcmp(a, b) == 0);
+}
+
 char *string_to_upper(char *s)
 {
    unsigned char *ucs = (unsigned char *)s;
diff --git a/playlist.c b/playlist.c
index 97e544e651..38f6fa07d8 100644
--- a/playlist.c
+++ b/playlist.c
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 
 #include <boolean.h>
 #include <compat/posix_string.h>
+#include <string/stdstring.h>
 
 #include "playlist.h"
 #include "verbosity.h"
@@ -91,7 +92,7 @@ void content_playlist_get_index_by_path(content_playlist_t *playlist,
 
    for (i = 0; i < playlist->size; i++)
    {
-      if (strcmp(playlist->entries[i].path, search_path) != 0)
+      if (!string_is_equal(playlist->entries[i].path, search_path))
          continue;
 
       if (path)
@@ -208,14 +209,14 @@ void content_playlist_push(content_playlist_t *playlist,
       content_playlist_entry_t tmp;
       bool equal_path = (!path && !playlist->entries[i].path) ||
          (path && playlist->entries[i].path &&
-          !strcmp(path,playlist->entries[i].path));
+          string_is_equal(path,playlist->entries[i].path));
 
       /* Core name can have changed while still being the same core.
        * Differentiate based on the core path only. */
       if (!equal_path)
          continue;
 
-      if (strcmp(playlist->entries[i].core_path, core_path))
+      if (!string_is_equal(playlist->entries[i].core_path, core_path))
          continue;
 
       /* If top entry, we don't want to push a new entry since
diff --git a/retroarch.c b/retroarch.c
index e2d1aa4451..ca76909bb5 100644
--- a/retroarch.c
+++ b/retroarch.c
@@ -794,16 +794,16 @@ static void parse_input(int argc, char *argv[])
             break;
 
          case 'M':
-            if (!strcmp(optarg, "noload-nosave"))
+            if (string_is_equal(optarg, "noload-nosave"))
             {
                global->sram.load_disable = true;
                global->sram.save_disable = true;
             }
-            else if (!strcmp(optarg, "noload-save"))
+            else if (string_is_equal(optarg, "noload-save"))
                global->sram.load_disable = true;
-            else if (!strcmp(optarg, "load-nosave"))
+            else if (string_is_equal(optarg, "load-nosave"))
                global->sram.save_disable = true;
-            else if (strcmp(optarg, "load-save") != 0)
+            else if (!string_is_equal(optarg, "load-save"))
             {
                RARCH_ERR("Invalid argument in --sram-mode.\n");
                print_help(argv[0]);
@@ -1389,7 +1389,7 @@ bool rarch_ctl(enum rarch_ctl_state state, void *data)
 
             /* If config file to be replaced is the same as the
              * current config file, exit. */
-            if (!strcmp(path, global->path.config))
+            if (string_is_equal(path, global->path.config))
                return false;
 
             if (settings->config_save_on_exit && *global->path.config)
diff --git a/tasks/task_database.c b/tasks/task_database.c
index 85b7c8b0af..cba1a5ee40 100644
--- a/tasks/task_database.c
+++ b/tasks/task_database.c
@@ -130,13 +130,13 @@ static int iso_get_serial(database_state_handle_t *db_state,
    if ((rv = detect_system(name, offset, &system_name)) < 0)
       return rv;
 
-   if (strcmp(system_name, "psp") == 0)
+   if (string_is_equal(system_name, "psp"))
    {
       if (detect_psp_game(name, serial) == 0)
          return 0;
       RARCH_LOG("Found disk label '%s'\n", serial);
    }
-   else if (strcmp(system_name, "ps1") == 0)
+   else if (string_is_equal(system_name, "ps1"))
    {
       if (detect_ps1_game(name, serial) == 0)
          return 0;
@@ -430,7 +430,7 @@ static int database_info_iterate_serial_lookup(
          RARCH_LOG("serial: %s , entry serial: %s (%s).\n",
                    db_state->serial, db_info_entry->serial, db_info_entry->name);
 #endif
-         if (!strcmp(db_state->serial, db_info_entry->serial))
+         if (string_is_equal(db_state->serial, db_info_entry->serial))
             return database_info_list_iterate_found_match(db_state, db, NULL);
       }
    }
diff --git a/tasks/task_database_cue.c b/tasks/task_database_cue.c
index eb6c8e584d..07100f7dff 100644
--- a/tasks/task_database_cue.c
+++ b/tasks/task_database_cue.c
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 #include <compat/strl.h>
 #include <retro_endianness.h>
 #include <retro_file.h>
+#include <string/stdstring.h>
 
 #include "tasks.h"
 
@@ -238,31 +239,31 @@ int detect_psp_game(const char *track_path, char *game_id)
       if (retro_fread(fd, game_id, 5) > 0)
       {
          game_id[5] = '\0';
-         if (!strcmp(game_id, "ULES-")
-          || !strcmp(game_id, "ULUS-")
-          || !strcmp(game_id, "ULJS-")
+         if (string_is_equal(game_id, "ULES-")
+          || string_is_equal(game_id, "ULUS-")
+          || string_is_equal(game_id, "ULJS-")
 
-          || !strcmp(game_id, "ULEM-")
-          || !strcmp(game_id, "ULUM-")
-          || !strcmp(game_id, "ULJM-")
+          || string_is_equal(game_id, "ULEM-")
+          || string_is_equal(game_id, "ULUM-")
+          || string_is_equal(game_id, "ULJM-")
 
-          || !strcmp(game_id, "UCES-")
-          || !strcmp(game_id, "UCUS-")
-          || !strcmp(game_id, "UCJS-")
-          || !strcmp(game_id, "UCAS-")
+          || string_is_equal(game_id, "UCES-")
+          || string_is_equal(game_id, "UCUS-")
+          || string_is_equal(game_id, "UCJS-")
+          || string_is_equal(game_id, "UCAS-")
 
-          || !strcmp(game_id, "NPEH-")
-          || !strcmp(game_id, "NPUH-")
-          || !strcmp(game_id, "NPJH-")
+          || string_is_equal(game_id, "NPEH-")
+          || string_is_equal(game_id, "NPUH-")
+          || string_is_equal(game_id, "NPJH-")
 
-          || !strcmp(game_id, "NPEG-")
-          || !strcmp(game_id, "NPUG-")
-          || !strcmp(game_id, "NPJG-")
-          || !strcmp(game_id, "NPHG-")
+          || string_is_equal(game_id, "NPEG-")
+          || string_is_equal(game_id, "NPUG-")
+          || string_is_equal(game_id, "NPJG-")
+          || string_is_equal(game_id, "NPHG-")
 
-          || !strcmp(game_id, "NPEZ-")
-          || !strcmp(game_id, "NPUZ-")
-          || !strcmp(game_id, "NPJZ-")
+          || string_is_equal(game_id, "NPEZ-")
+          || string_is_equal(game_id, "NPUZ-")
+          || string_is_equal(game_id, "NPJZ-")
          )
          {
             retro_fseek(fd, pos, SEEK_SET);
@@ -327,7 +328,7 @@ int detect_system(const char *track_path, int32_t offset,
    if (retro_fread(fd, magic, 8) > 0)
    {
       magic[8] = '\0';
-      if (!strcmp(magic, "PSP GAME"))
+      if (string_is_equal(magic, "PSP GAME"))
       {
          *system_name = "psp\0";
          rv = 0;
@@ -365,7 +366,7 @@ int find_first_data_track(const char *cue_path,
 
    while (get_token(fd, tmp_token, MAX_TOKEN_LEN) > 0)
    {
-      if (strcmp(tmp_token, "FILE") == 0)
+      if (string_is_equal(tmp_token, "FILE"))
       {
          get_token(fd, tmp_token, MAX_TOKEN_LEN);
          fill_pathname_join(track_path, cue_dir, tmp_token, max_len);
diff --git a/tasks/task_decompress.c b/tasks/task_decompress.c
index c48d0e7feb..c965fd81b5 100644
--- a/tasks/task_decompress.c
+++ b/tasks/task_decompress.c
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ static bool rarch_task_decompress_finder(rarch_task_t *task, void *user_data)
    if (task->handler != rarch_task_decompress_handler)
       return false;
 
-   return strcmp(dec->source_file, (const char*)user_data) == 0;
+   return string_is_equal(dec->source_file, (const char*)user_data);
 }
 
 bool rarch_task_push_decompress(const char *source_file, const char *target_dir,
@@ -203,8 +203,8 @@ bool rarch_task_push_decompress(const char *source_file, const char *target_dir,
    }
 
    /* ZIP or APK only */
-   is_compressed = !strcmp("zip", path_get_extension(source_file));
-   is_compressed = !is_compressed ? !strcmp("apk", path_get_extension(source_file)) : is_compressed;
+   is_compressed = string_is_equal(path_get_extension(source_file), "zip");
+   is_compressed = !is_compressed ? string_is_equal(path_get_extension(source_file), "apk") : is_compressed;
 
    if (!path_file_exists(source_file) || !is_compressed)
    {
diff --git a/tasks/task_http.c b/tasks/task_http.c
index fb3b44ef85..8dec294b48 100644
--- a/tasks/task_http.c
+++ b/tasks/task_http.c
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 #include <net/net_http.h>
 #include <queues/message_queue.h>
 #include <string/string_list.h>
+#include <string/stdstring.h>
 #include <compat/strl.h>
 #include <file/file_path.h>
 #include <file/file_extract.h>
@@ -202,7 +203,7 @@ static bool rarch_task_http_finder(rarch_task_t *task, void *user_data)
 
    handle_url = net_http_connection_url(http->connection.handle);
 
-   return strcmp(handle_url, (const char*)user_data) == 0;
+   return string_is_equal(handle_url, (const char*)user_data);
 }
 
 bool rarch_task_push_http_transfer(const char *url, const char *type, rarch_task_callback_t cb, void *user_data)
diff --git a/tasks/task_overlay.c b/tasks/task_overlay.c
index b2e4c78a0d..0623e3e194 100644
--- a/tasks/task_overlay.c
+++ b/tasks/task_overlay.c
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ static bool rarch_task_overlay_load_desc(
             desc->type = OVERLAY_TYPE_BUTTONS;
             for (tmp = strtok_r(key, "|", &save); tmp; tmp = strtok_r(NULL, "|", &save))
             {
-               if (strcmp(tmp, "nul") != 0)
+               if (!string_is_equal(tmp, "nul"))
                   desc->key_mask |= UINT64_C(1) << input_config_translate_str_to_bind_id(tmp);
             }
 
@@ -538,7 +538,7 @@ static ssize_t rarch_task_overlay_find_index(const struct overlay *ol,
 
    for (i = 0; i < size; i++)
    {
-      if (!strcmp(ol[i].name, name))
+      if (string_is_equal(ol[i].name, name))
          return i;
    }
 
diff --git a/verbosity.c b/verbosity.c
index f3e1f0dfb0..9434a31276 100644
--- a/verbosity.c
+++ b/verbosity.c
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@
 #include <android/log.h>
 #endif
 
+#include <string/stdstring.h>
+
 #if defined(HAVE_FILE_LOGGER)
 #define LOG_FILE (retro_main_log_file())
 #else
@@ -129,9 +131,9 @@ static aslclient asl_client;
    int prio = ANDROID_LOG_INFO;
    if (tag)
    {
-      if (!strcmp("[WARN]", tag))
+      if (string_is_equal("[WARN]", tag))
          prio = ANDROID_LOG_WARN;
-      else if (!strcmp("[ERROR]", tag))
+      else if (string_is_equal("[ERROR]", tag))
          prio = ANDROID_LOG_ERROR;
    }
    __android_log_vprint(prio, PROGRAM_NAME, fmt, ap);