diff --git a/lib/assert.js b/lib/assert.js
index bdc2fcf5a8..70327467ab 100644
--- a/lib/assert.js
+++ b/lib/assert.js
@@ -180,7 +180,14 @@ function strictDeepEqual(actual, expected) {
   if (Object.getPrototypeOf(actual) !== Object.getPrototypeOf(expected)) {
     return false;
   }
-  if (isObjectOrArrayTag(actualTag)) {
+  if (actualTag === '[object Array]') {
+    // Check for sparse arrays and general fast path
+    if (actual.length !== expected.length)
+      return false;
+    // Skip testing the part below and continue in the callee function.
+    return;
+  }
+  if (actualTag === '[object Object]') {
     // Skip testing the part below and continue in the callee function.
     return;
   }
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-assert-deep.js b/test/parallel/test-assert-deep.js
index 08b0b80d9d..e13973711c 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-assert-deep.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-assert-deep.js
@@ -466,4 +466,7 @@ assertOnlyDeepEqual(
   assertDeepAndStrictEqual(m3, m4);
 }
 
+assertDeepAndStrictEqual([1, , , 3], [1, , , 3]);
+assertOnlyDeepEqual([1, , , 3], [1, , , 3, , , ]);
+
 /* eslint-enable */