diff --git a/crates/nu-protocol/src/value/range.rs b/crates/nu-protocol/src/value/range.rs
index 2832d09b2..44a97d7b5 100644
--- a/crates/nu-protocol/src/value/range.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-protocol/src/value/range.rs
@@ -153,11 +153,11 @@ impl RangeIterator {
 }
 
 // Compare two floating point numbers. The decision interval for equality is dynamically scaled
-// based on the value being compared.
+// as the value being compared increases in magnitude.
 fn compare_floats(val: f64, other: f64) -> Option<Ordering> {
-    let prec = val * f64::EPSILON;
+    let prec = f64::EPSILON.max(val.abs() * f64::EPSILON);
 
-    if (other - val).abs() < prec.abs() {
+    if (other - val).abs() < prec {
         return Some(Ordering::Equal);
     }