diff --git a/filament/src/driver/vulkan/VulkanDriver.cpp b/filament/src/driver/vulkan/VulkanDriver.cpp
index 5af005fbe9..97b95f5d18 100644
--- a/filament/src/driver/vulkan/VulkanDriver.cpp
+++ b/filament/src/driver/vulkan/VulkanDriver.cpp
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ VulkanDriver::VulkanDriver(VulkanPlatform* platform,
     for (const VkLayerProperties& layer : availableLayers) {
         const utils::CString availableLayer(layer.layerName);
         for (const auto& desired : DESIRED_LAYERS) {
-            if (availableLayer.compare(desired) == 0) {
+            if (availableLayer == desired) {
                 enabledLayers.push_back(desired.c_str());
             }
         }
diff --git a/libs/utils/include/utils/CString.h b/libs/utils/include/utils/CString.h
index f4e37b0dbe..2838cf6ae0 100644
--- a/libs/utils/include/utils/CString.h
+++ b/libs/utils/include/utils/CString.h
@@ -279,14 +279,10 @@ private:
         return strncmp(data(), rhs.data(), size());
     }
 
-    int compare(const StaticString& rhs) const noexcept {
-        size_type lhs_size = size();
-        size_type rhs_size = rhs.size();
-        if (lhs_size < rhs_size) return -1;
-        if (lhs_size > rhs_size) return 1;
-        return strncmp(data(), rhs.data(), size());
+    friend bool operator==(CString const& lhs, StaticString const& rhs) noexcept {
+        return (lhs.data() == rhs.data()) ||
+               ((lhs.size() == rhs.size()) && !strncmp(lhs.data(), rhs.data(), lhs.size()));
     }
-
     friend bool operator==(CString const& lhs, CString const& rhs) noexcept {
         return (lhs.data() == rhs.data()) ||
                ((lhs.size() == rhs.size()) && !strncmp(lhs.data(), rhs.data(), lhs.size()));