diff --git a/inc/field/textareafield.class.php b/inc/field/textareafield.class.php
index 2c46c8a02..7f6c12532 100644
--- a/inc/field/textareafield.class.php
+++ b/inc/field/textareafield.class.php
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ public function getValueForTargetText($domain, $richText): ?string {
    }
 
    public function equals($value): bool {
-      return $this->value == $value;
+      return $this->value == Sanitizer::unsanitize($value);
    }
 
    public function notEquals($value): bool {
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ public function notEquals($value): bool {
    }
 
    public function greaterThan($value): bool {
-      return $this->value > $value;
+      return $this->value > Sanitizer::unsanitize($value);
    }
 
    public function lessThan($value): bool {