diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 821304b0e..1b12c7992 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@
 		"esbuild": "^0.14.54",
 		"eslint": "^8.21.0",
 		"eslint-config-prettier": "^8.5.0",
+		"fast-deep-equal": "^3.1.3",
 		"husky": "^8.0.1",
 		"karma": "6.3.16",
 		"karma-chai-sinon": "^0.1.5",
diff --git a/packages/core/src/index.ts b/packages/core/src/index.ts
index 4ac1622ab..265b1410e 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/index.ts
@@ -206,6 +206,9 @@ declare class Signal<T = any> {
 
 	peek(): T;
 
+	/** if true, triggers an update with the new incoming value */
+	shouldUpdate(oldValue: T, newValue: T): boolean;
+
 	get value(): T;
 	set value(value: T);
 }
@@ -280,6 +283,10 @@ Signal.prototype.peek = function () {
 	return this._value;
 };
 
+Signal.prototype.shouldUpdate = (oldValue, newValue) => {
+	return newValue !== oldValue;
+};
+
 Object.defineProperty(Signal.prototype, "value", {
 	get() {
 		const node = addDependency(this);
@@ -289,7 +296,9 @@ Object.defineProperty(Signal.prototype, "value", {
 		return this._value;
 	},
 	set(value) {
-		if (value !== this._value) {
+		const shouldUpdate = this.shouldUpdate(this._value, value);
+
+		if (shouldUpdate) {
 			if (batchIteration > 100) {
 				cycleDetected();
 			}
diff --git a/packages/core/test/signal.test.tsx b/packages/core/test/signal.test.tsx
index aeb8691a6..107ae5a8c 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/signal.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/core/test/signal.test.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { signal, computed, effect, batch, Signal } from "@preact/signals-core";
+import fastEqual from "fast-deep-equal/es6";
 
 describe("signal", () => {
 	it("should return value", () => {
@@ -1711,4 +1712,47 @@ describe("batch/transaction", () => {
 		});
 		expect(callCount).to.equal(1);
 	});
+
+	it("allows customizing the default shouldUpdate compare method", () => {
+		const mapA = new Map<string, string>();
+		const a = signal(mapA);
+		const spy1 = sinon.spy(() => a.value);
+		effect(spy1);
+
+		// before: re-renders every time, even if the value doesn't change
+		a.value = new Map(a.peek()).set("foo", "bar");
+		a.value = new Map(a.peek()).set("foo", "baz");
+		a.value = new Map(a.peek()).set("foo", "baz");
+		a.value = new Map(a.peek()).set("foo", "baz");
+
+		// should have been called twice but instead re-renders regardless on value pass in (without specifying a custom shouldUpdate method)
+		expect(spy1.callCount).to.equal(5);
+
+		Signal.prototype.shouldUpdate = (oldValue, newValue) => {
+			if (oldValue instanceof Map && newValue instanceof Map) {
+				return fastEqual(oldValue, newValue) === false;
+			}
+			return oldValue !== newValue;
+		};
+
+		function signal2<T>(value: T): Signal<T> {
+			return new Signal(value);
+		}
+
+		const mapB = new Map<string, string>();
+		const b = signal2(mapB);
+		const spy2 = sinon.spy(() => b.value);
+		effect(spy2);
+
+		// after: only re-renders if the value changes (via custom shouldUpdate method)
+		b.value = new Map(b.peek()).set("foo", "bar");
+		b.value = new Map(b.peek()).set("foo", "baz");
+		b.value = new Map(b.peek()).set("foo", "baz");
+		b.value = new Map(b.peek()).set("foo", "baz");
+
+		// setting up the initial empty Map --> update #1
+		// adding foo, bar to empty map --> update #2
+		// updating foo, bar to foo, baz --> update #3
+		expect(spy2.callCount).to.equal(3);
+	});
 });
diff --git a/pnpm-lock.yaml b/pnpm-lock.yaml
index bb6a27947..9c56d815d 100644
--- a/pnpm-lock.yaml
+++ b/pnpm-lock.yaml
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ importers:
       esbuild: ^0.14.54
       eslint: ^8.21.0
       eslint-config-prettier: ^8.5.0
+      fast-deep-equal: ^3.1.3
       husky: ^8.0.1
       karma: 6.3.16
       karma-chai-sinon: ^0.1.5
@@ -75,6 +76,7 @@ importers:
       esbuild: 0.14.54
       eslint: 8.21.0
       eslint-config-prettier: 8.5.0_eslint@8.21.0
+      fast-deep-equal: 3.1.3
       husky: 8.0.1
       karma: 6.3.16
       karma-chai-sinon: 0.1.5_4327255nuu22k6utwpuk2rzg54