1 files changed, 26 insertions, 5 deletions
diff --git a/lib/internal/assert.js b/lib/internal/assert.js
index 36e3bbf57b..b6c1253ba9 100644
--- a/lib/internal/assert.js
+++ b/lib/internal/assert.js
@@ -13,10 +13,13 @@ let white = '';
 const kReadableOperator = {
   deepStrictEqual: 'Expected inputs to be strictly deep-equal:',
   strictEqual: 'Expected inputs to be strictly equal:',
+  strictEqualObject: 'Expected "actual" to be reference-equal to "expected":',
   deepEqual: 'Expected inputs to be loosely deep-equal:',
   equal: 'Expected inputs to be loosely equal:',
   notDeepStrictEqual: 'Expected "actual" not to be strictly deep-equal to:',
   notStrictEqual: 'Expected "actual" to be strictly unequal to:',
+  // eslint-disable-next-line max-len
+  notStrictEqualObject: 'Expected "actual" not to be reference-equal to "expected":',
   notDeepEqual: 'Expected "actual" not to be loosely deep-equal to:',
   notEqual: 'Expected "actual" to be loosely unequal to:',
   notIdentical: 'Inputs identical but not reference equal:',
@@ -67,13 +70,20 @@ function createErrDiff(actual, expected, operator) {
   const actualInspected = inspectValue(actual);
   const actualLines = actualInspected.split('\n');
   const expectedLines = inspectValue(expected).split('\n');
-  const msg = kReadableOperator[operator] +
-        `\n${green}+ actual${white} ${red}- expected${white}`;
-  const skippedMsg = ` ${blue}...${white} Lines skipped`;
 
   let i = 0;
   let indicator = '';
 
+  // In case both inputs are objects explicitly mark them as not reference equal
+  // for the `strictEqual` operator.
+  if (operator === 'strictEqual' &&
+      typeof actual === 'object' &&
+      typeof expected === 'object' &&
+      actual !== null &&
+      expected !== null) {
+    operator = 'strictEqualObject';
+  }
+
   // If "actual" and "expected" fit on a single line and they are not strictly
   // equal, check further special handling.
   if (actualLines.length === 1 && expectedLines.length === 1 &&
@@ -89,7 +99,7 @@ function createErrDiff(actual, expected, operator) {
         return `${kReadableOperator[operator]}\n\n` +
             `${actualLines[0]} !== ${expectedLines[0]}\n`;
       }
-    } else {
+    } else if (operator !== 'strictEqualObject') {
       // If the stderr is a tty and the input length is lower than the current
       // columns per line, add a mismatch indicator below the output. If it is
       // not a tty, use a default value of 80 characters.
@@ -156,6 +166,10 @@ function createErrDiff(actual, expected, operator) {
   }
 
   let printedLines = 0;
+  const msg = kReadableOperator[operator] +
+        `\n${green}+ actual${white} ${red}- expected${white}`;
+  const skippedMsg = ` ${blue}...${white} Lines skipped`;
+
   for (i = 0; i < maxLines; i++) {
     // Only extra expected lines exist
     const cur = i - lastPos;
@@ -274,8 +288,15 @@ class AssertionError extends Error {
         operator === 'notStrictEqual') {
         // In case the objects are equal but the operator requires unequal, show
         // the first object and say A equals B
+        let base = kReadableOperator[operator];
         const res = inspectValue(actual).split('\n');
-        const base = kReadableOperator[operator];
+
+        // In case "actual" is an object, it should not be reference equal.
+        if (operator === 'notStrictEqual' &&
+            typeof actual === 'object' &&
+            actual !== null) {
+          base = kReadableOperator.notStrictEqualObject;
+        }
 
         // Only remove lines in case it makes sense to collapse those.
         // TODO: Accept env to always show the full error.