diff --git a/Data/AList.hs b/Data/AList.hs
--- a/Data/AList.hs
+++ b/Data/AList.hs
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 import Prelude hiding (sum)
 import Data.Monoid
 import Data.Semigroup
+import Data.Foldable
 
 data AList a = AListTip a
              | AListAppend (AList a) (AList a)
@@ -11,6 +12,12 @@
 singleton x = AListTip x
 append = AListAppend 
 
+instance Eq a => Eq (AList a) where
+  alist == alist' = toList alist == toList alist'
+
+instance Ord a => Ord (AList a) where
+  compare alist alist' = compare (toList alist) (toList alist')
+
 instance Foldable AList where
    foldMap f AListEmpty = mempty
    foldMap f (AListTip a) = f a
@@ -28,5 +35,6 @@
  mempty = AListEmpty
  mappend = append
 
+-- this doesn't technically associate
 instance Semigroup (AList a) where
  (<>) = append
diff --git a/alist.cabal b/alist.cabal
--- a/alist.cabal
+++ b/alist.cabal
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 -- PVP summary:      +-+------- breaking API changes
 --                   | | +----- non-breaking API additions
 --                   | | | +--- code changes with no API change
-version:             0.1.1.7
+version:             0.1.2.7
 
 -- A short (one-line) description of the package.
 synopsis:            lists with O(1) append