diff --git a/tools/testing/ktest/ktest.pl b/tools/testing/ktest/ktest.pl
index c76e18f..ed20d68 100755
--- a/tools/testing/ktest/ktest.pl
+++ b/tools/testing/ktest/ktest.pl
@@ -361,11 +361,47 @@
     }
 }
 
+sub process_compare {
+    my ($lval, $cmp, $rval) = @_;
+
+    # remove whitespace
+
+    $lval =~ s/^\s*//;
+    $lval =~ s/\s*$//;
+
+    $rval =~ s/^\s*//;
+    $rval =~ s/\s*$//;
+
+    if ($cmp eq "==") {
+	return $lval eq $rval;
+    } elsif ($cmp eq "!=") {
+	return $lval ne $rval;
+    }
+
+    my $statement = "$lval $cmp $rval";
+    my $ret = eval $statement;
+
+    # $@ stores error of eval
+    if ($@) {
+	return -1;
+    }
+
+    return $ret;
+}
+
 sub process_if {
     my ($name, $value) = @_;
 
     my $val = process_variables($value);
 
+    if ($val =~ /(.*)(==|\!=|>=|<=|>|<)(.*)/) {
+	my $ret = process_compare($1, $2, $3);
+	if ($ret < 0) {
+	    die "$name: $.: Unable to process comparison\n";
+	}
+	return $ret;
+    }
+
     if ($val =~ /^\s*0\s*$/) {
 	return 0;
     } elsif ($val =~ /^\s*\d+\s*$/) {
@@ -428,8 +464,8 @@
 		$repeat_tests{"$test_num"} = $repeat;
 	    }
 
-	    if ($rest =~ /\sIF\s+(\S*)(.*)/) {
-		$rest = $2;
+	    if ($rest =~ /\sIF\s+(.*)/) {
+		$rest = "";
 		if (process_if($name, $1)) {
 		    $if_set = 1;
 		} else {
@@ -461,14 +497,14 @@
 		$skip = 0;
 	    }
 
-	    if ($rest =~ /\sIF\s+(\S*)(.*)/) {
+	    if ($rest =~ /\sIF\s+(.*)/) {
 		$if = 1;
-		$rest = $2;
 		if (process_if($name, $1)) {
 		    $if_set = 1;
 		} else {
 		    $skip = 1;
 		}
+		$rest = "";
 	    } else {
 		$if = 0;
 	    }
@@ -477,26 +513,32 @@
 		die "$name: $.: Gargbage found after DEFAULTS\n$_";
 	    }
 
-	} elsif (/^\s*ELSE(.*)$/) {
+	} elsif (/^\s*ELSE\b(.*)$/) {
 	    if (!$if) {
 		die "$name: $.: ELSE found with out matching IF section\n$_";
 	    }
 	    $rest = $1;
 	    if ($if_set) {
 		$skip = 1;
+		$rest = "";
 	    } else {
 		$skip = 0;
 
-		if ($rest =~ /\sIF\s+(\S*)(.*)/) {
+		if ($rest =~ /\sIF\s+(.*)/) {
 		    # May be a ELSE IF section.
 		    if (!process_if($name, $1)) {
 			$skip = 1;
 		    }
+		    $rest = "";
 		} else {
 		    $if = 0;
 		}
 	    }
 
+	    if ($rest !~ /^\s*$/) {
+		die "$name: $.: Gargbage found after DEFAULTS\n$_";
+	    }
+
 	} elsif (/^\s*([A-Z_\[\]\d]+)\s*=\s*(.*?)\s*$/) {
 
 	    next if ($skip);
diff --git a/tools/testing/ktest/sample.conf b/tools/testing/ktest/sample.conf
index 6a0a0ba..4e8fb91 100644
--- a/tools/testing/ktest/sample.conf
+++ b/tools/testing/ktest/sample.conf
@@ -72,6 +72,8 @@
 # the same option name under the same test or as default
 # ktest will fail to execute, and no tests will run.
 #
+#
+#
 # Both TEST_START and DEFAULTS sections can also have the IF keyword
 # The value after the IF must evaluate into a 0 or non 0 positive
 # integer, and can use the config variables (explained below).
@@ -110,6 +112,18 @@
 # ELSE
 # BUILD_TYPE = useconfig:${CONFIG_DIR}/config-network
 #
+# The if statement may also have comparisons that will and for
+# == and !=, strings may be used for both sides.
+#
+# BOX_TYPE := x86_32
+#
+# DEFAULTS IF ${BOX_TYPE} == x86_32
+# BUILD_TYPE = useconfig:${CONFIG_DIR}/config-32
+# ELSE
+# BUILD_TYPE = useconfig:${CONFIG_DIR}/config-64
+#
+
+
 
 #### Config variables ####
 #