diff --git a/cake/libs/model/datasources/dbo_source.php b/cake/libs/model/datasources/dbo_source.php
index dedd6d57d..1c70162cf 100644
--- a/cake/libs/model/datasources/dbo_source.php
+++ b/cake/libs/model/datasources/dbo_source.php
@@ -1567,7 +1567,7 @@ class DboSource extends DataSource {
 					$data = $this->name($key) . " = " . $this->boolean($value);
 				} elseif ($value === '') {
 					$data = $this->name($key) . " = ''";
-				} elseif (preg_match('/^([a-z]*\\([a-z0-9]*\\)\\x20?|(?:' . join('\\x20)|(?:', $this->__sqlOps) . '\\x20)|<=?(?![^>]+>)\\x20?|[>=!]{1,3}(?!<)\\x20?)?(.*)/i', $value, $match)) {
+				} elseif (preg_match('/^([a-z]*\\([a-z0-9]*\\)\\x20?|(?:' . join('\\x20)|(?:', $this->__sqlOps) . '\\x20)|<[>=]?(?![^>]+>)\\x20?|[>=!]{1,3}(?!<)\\x20?)?(.*)/i', $value, $match)) {
 					if (preg_match('/(\\x20[\\w]*\\x20)/', $key, $regs)) {
 						$clause = $regs['1'];
 						$key = preg_replace('/' . $regs['1'] . '/', '', $key);
diff --git a/cake/tests/cases/libs/model/datasources/dbo_source.test.php b/cake/tests/cases/libs/model/datasources/dbo_source.test.php
index f41678ec6..886d7e753 100644
--- a/cake/tests/cases/libs/model/datasources/dbo_source.test.php
+++ b/cake/tests/cases/libs/model/datasources/dbo_source.test.php
@@ -1377,6 +1377,13 @@ class DboSourceTest extends UnitTestCase {
 			'Enrollment.yearcompleted' => '> 0')
 		);
 		$this->assertPattern('/^\s*WHERE\s+NOT\s+\(`Course`\.`id` IS NULL\)\s+AND NOT\s+\(`Course`\.`vet`\s+=\s+\'N\'\)\s+AND NOT\s+\(`level_of_education_id` IN \(912, 999\)\s*\)\s+AND\s+`Enrollment`\.`yearcompleted`\s+>\s+0\s*$/', $result);
+
+		$result = $this->db->conditions(array('id' => '<> 8'));
+		$this->assertPattern('/^\s*WHERE\s+`id`\s+<>\s+8\s*$/', $result);
+
+		//$result = $this->db->conditions(array('TestModel.field' => '= gribe$@()lu'));
+		//$expected = " WHERE `TestModel.field` =  'gribe$@()lu'";
+		//$this->assertEqual($result, $expected);
 	}
 
 	function testFieldParsing() {