diff --git a/Lib/numbers.py b/Lib/numbers.py
index e391abc..cbceced 100644
--- a/Lib/numbers.py
+++ b/Lib/numbers.py
@@ -174,7 +174,10 @@
         """self == other"""
         raise NotImplementedError
 
-    # __ne__ is inherited from object and negates whatever __eq__ does.
+    def __ne__(self, other):
+        """self != other"""
+        # The default __ne__ doesn't negate __eq__ until 3.0.
+        return not (self == other)
 
 Complex.register(complex)
 
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_rational.py b/Lib/test/test_rational.py
index 5679c5a..8e62081 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_rational.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_rational.py
@@ -313,6 +313,8 @@
         self.assertFalse(R(2, 3) <= R(1, 2))
         self.assertTrue(R(1, 2) == R(1, 2))
         self.assertFalse(R(1, 2) == R(1, 3))
+        self.assertFalse(R(1, 2) != R(1, 2))
+        self.assertTrue(R(1, 2) != R(1, 3))
 
     def testMixedLess(self):
         self.assertTrue(2 < R(5, 2))