diff --git a/docs/api.md b/docs/api.md
index 4082326be..85561c865 100644
--- a/docs/api.md
+++ b/docs/api.md
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ Instead, it *returns* a new, connected component class, for you to use.
 * [`options`] *(Object)* If specified, further customizes the behavior of the connector.
   * [`pure = true`] *(Boolean)*: If true, implements `shouldComponentUpdate` and shallowly compares the result of `mergeProps`, preventing unnecessary updates, assuming that the component is a “pure” component and does not rely on any input or state other than its props and the selected Redux store’s state. *Defaults to `true`.*
   * [`withRef = false`] *(Boolean)*: If true, stores a ref to the wrapped component instance and makes it available via `getWrappedInstance()` method. *Defaults to `false`.*
+  * [`arePropsEqual = shallowEqual`] *(Function)*: Replaces the default equality comparison between props when determining if props have been updated. *Defaults to `shallowEqual` comparison.*
 
 #### Returns
 
diff --git a/src/components/connect.js b/src/components/connect.js
index 5b31632d1..a93cc679c 100644
--- a/src/components/connect.js
+++ b/src/components/connect.js
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ export default function connect(mapStateToProps, mapDispatchToProps, mergeProps,
   const finalMergeProps = mergeProps || defaultMergeProps
   const shouldUpdateStateProps = finalMapStateToProps.length > 1
   const shouldUpdateDispatchProps = finalMapDispatchToProps.length > 1
-  const { pure = true, withRef = false } = options
+  const { pure = true, withRef = false, arePropsEqual = shallowEqual } = options
 
   // Helps track hot reloading.
   const version = nextVersion++
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ export default function connect(mapStateToProps, mapDispatchToProps, mergeProps,
         }
 
         const storeChanged = nextState.storeState !== this.state.storeState
-        const propsChanged = !shallowEqual(nextProps, this.props)
+        const propsChanged = !arePropsEqual(nextProps, this.props)
         let mapStateProducedChange = false
         let dispatchPropsChanged = false
 
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ export default function connect(mapStateToProps, mapDispatchToProps, mergeProps,
 
       updateStateProps(props = this.props) {
         const nextStateProps = computeStateProps(this.store, props)
-        if (shallowEqual(nextStateProps, this.stateProps)) {
+        if (arePropsEqual(nextStateProps, this.stateProps)) {
           return false
         }
 
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ export default function connect(mapStateToProps, mapDispatchToProps, mergeProps,
 
       updateDispatchProps(props = this.props) {
         const nextDispatchProps = computeDispatchProps(this.store, props)
-        if (shallowEqual(nextDispatchProps, this.dispatchProps)) {
+        if (arePropsEqual(nextDispatchProps, this.dispatchProps)) {
           return false
         }
 
diff --git a/test/components/connect.spec.js b/test/components/connect.spec.js
index bae556e0a..827277feb 100644
--- a/test/components/connect.spec.js
+++ b/test/components/connect.spec.js
@@ -1369,5 +1369,57 @@ describe('React', () => {
       // But render is not because it did not make any actual changes
       expect(renderCalls).toBe(1)
     })
+
+    it('should accept arePropsEqual option for custom equality', () => {
+      const store = createStore(stringBuilder)
+      let renderCalls = 0
+      let mapStateCalls = 0
+
+      function deeperShallowEqual(maxDepth) {
+        return function eq(objA, objB, depth = 0) {
+          if (objA === objB) return true
+          if (depth > maxDepth) return objA === objB
+          const keysA = Object.keys(objA)
+          const keysB = Object.keys(objB)
+          if (keysA.length !== keysB.length) return false
+          const hasOwn = Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty
+          for (let i = 0; i < keysA.length; i++) {
+            if (!hasOwn.call(objB, keysA[i]) ||
+              !eq(objA[keysA[i]], objB[keysA[i]], depth + 1)) {
+              return false
+            }
+          }
+          return true
+        }
+      }
+
+      @connect((state, props) => {
+        mapStateCalls++
+        return { a: [ 1, 2, 3, 4 ], name: props.name } // no change with new equality comparison!
+      }, null, null, { arePropsEqual: deeperShallowEqual(1) })
+      class Container extends Component {
+        render() {
+          renderCalls++
+          return <Passthrough {...this.props} />
+        }
+      }
+
+      TestUtils.renderIntoDocument(
+        <ProviderMock store={store}>
+          <Container name="test" />
+        </ProviderMock>
+      )
+
+      expect(renderCalls).toBe(1)
+      expect(mapStateCalls).toBe(2)
+
+      store.dispatch({ type: 'APPEND', body: 'a' })
+
+      // After store a change mapState has been called
+      expect(mapStateCalls).toBe(3)
+      // But render is not because it did not make any actual changes
+      expect(renderCalls).toBe(1)
+    })
+
   })
 })