diff --git a/icu4c/source/test/intltest/loctest.cpp b/icu4c/source/test/intltest/loctest.cpp
index f12b954ab00..9de05db76cd 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/test/intltest/loctest.cpp
+++ b/icu4c/source/test/intltest/loctest.cpp
@@ -5711,7 +5711,7 @@ public:
 };
 
 bool isKnownSourceForCLDR17099(const std::string& s) {
-    if (s.compare("qaa-Cyrl-CH") == 0) {
+    if (s == "qaa-Cyrl-CH") {
         return true;
     }