diff --git a/org.hl7.fhir.utilities/src/main/java/org/hl7/fhir/utilities/validation/ValidationMessage.java b/org.hl7.fhir.utilities/src/main/java/org/hl7/fhir/utilities/validation/ValidationMessage.java
index 61471be66..f570957f1 100644
--- a/org.hl7.fhir.utilities/src/main/java/org/hl7/fhir/utilities/validation/ValidationMessage.java
+++ b/org.hl7.fhir.utilities/src/main/java/org/hl7/fhir/utilities/validation/ValidationMessage.java
@@ -757,7 +757,11 @@ public class ValidationMessage implements Comparator<ValidationMessage>, Compara
 
   @Override
   public boolean equals(Object o) {
-    return (this.getMessage() != null && this.getMessage().equals(((ValidationMessage)o).getMessage())) && (this.getLocation() != null && this.getLocation().equals(((ValidationMessage)o).getLocation()));
+    return (
+      this.getMessage() != null && this.getMessage().equals(((ValidationMessage)o).getMessage()))
+      && (this.getLocation() != null && this.getLocation().equals(((ValidationMessage)o).getLocation()))
+      && (this.getLevel() != null && this.getLevel().equals(((ValidationMessage)o).getLevel()))
+      ;
   }
 
   @Override