diff --git a/src/dbi.cpp b/src/dbi.cpp
index b381abf22f..c427ff16c5 100644
--- a/src/dbi.cpp
+++ b/src/dbi.cpp
@@ -138,6 +138,9 @@ NAN_METHOD(DbiWrap::ctor) {
     }
     else {
         isOpen = true;
+        if (keyType == NodeLmdbKeyType::StringKey) {
+            rc = mdb_set_compare(txn, dbi, utf16_cmp_func);
+        }
     }
 
     if (needsTransaction) {
diff --git a/src/misc.cpp b/src/misc.cpp
index f271983639..9028766970 100644
--- a/src/misc.cpp
+++ b/src/misc.cpp
@@ -305,3 +305,16 @@ const uint16_t *CustomExternalStringResource::data() const {
 size_t CustomExternalStringResource::length() const {
     return this->l;
 }
+
+int utf16_cmp_func(const MDB_val *a, const MDB_val *b) {
+    size_t len = (b->mv_size > a->mv_size ? a->mv_size >> 1 : b->mv_size >> 1) - 1;
+    uint16_t charA, charB;
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < len; i++) {
+        charA = *((uint16_t*)a->mv_data + i);
+        charB = *((uint16_t*)b->mv_data + i);
+        if (charA != charB) {
+            return (charA - charB);
+        }
+    }
+    return a->mv_size == b->mv_size ? 0 : a->mv_size - b->mv_size;
+}
diff --git a/src/node-lmdb.h b/src/node-lmdb.h
index 33abbde471..5242883daf 100644
--- a/src/node-lmdb.h
+++ b/src/node-lmdb.h
@@ -61,6 +61,8 @@ void setupExportMisc(Handle<Object> exports);
 // Helper callback
 typedef void (*argtokey_callback_t)(MDB_val &key);
 
+int utf16_cmp_func(const MDB_val *a, const MDB_val *b);
+
 void consoleLog(Local<Value> val);
 void consoleLog(const char *msg);
 void consoleLogN(int n);