diff --git a/collects/honu/main.ss b/collects/honu/main.ss
index e3d65b245e..ea7f93f4a4 100644
--- a/collects/honu/main.ss
+++ b/collects/honu/main.ss
@@ -1396,6 +1396,10 @@
     (syntax-case stx ()
       [(_ a b) #'(and a b)]))
 
+  (define-syntax (!= stx)
+    (syntax-case stx ()
+      [(_ a b) #'(not (equal? a b))]))
+
   (define-syntax (\|\| stx)
     (syntax-case stx ()
       [(_ a b) #'(or a b)]))
@@ -2064,7 +2068,7 @@
 	   (rename honu-class class)
 	   (rename honu+ +) (rename honu- -) (rename honu* *) 
            / (rename modulo %)
-           < > <= >= (rename equal? ==)
+           < > <= >= (rename equal? ==) !=
            && \|\|
 	   (rename string->number stringToNumber)
 	   (rename number->string numberToString)
diff --git a/collects/tests/honu/basic.honu b/collects/tests/honu/basic.honu
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e541fcf19c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/collects/tests/honu/basic.honu
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+#lang honu
+
+obj test(t, a, b){
+  if (a != b){
+    display(t);
+    display(" failed!");
+    newline();
+    display("Got ");
+    display(a);
+    display(". Expected ");
+    display(b);
+    newline();
+  }
+}
+
+var x = 3;
+test("x = 3", x, 4);
diff --git a/collects/tests/honu/ideas.honu b/collects/tests/honu/ideas.honu
index 9105138c7e..c7d270a50c 100644
--- a/collects/tests/honu/ideas.honu
+++ b/collects/tests/honu/ideas.honu
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#honu
+#lang honu
 
 /*
 <a>a f(a x, a b) { return (obj)x; }