diff --git a/packages/expect/src/jest-utils.ts b/packages/expect/src/jest-utils.ts
index 63aa295b5a20..a6d842043ae1 100644
--- a/packages/expect/src/jest-utils.ts
+++ b/packages/expect/src/jest-utils.ts
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ function eq(
   if (a instanceof Error && b instanceof Error)
     return a.message === b.message
 
-  if (a instanceof URL && b instanceof URL)
+  if (typeof URL === 'function' && a instanceof URL && b instanceof URL)
     return a.href === b.href
 
   if (Object.is(a, b))
diff --git a/test/core/test/jest-expect-no-url.test.ts b/test/core/test/jest-expect-no-url.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..6f5ae6ce3211
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/core/test/jest-expect-no-url.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+import { expect, it } from 'vitest'
+
+// simulate odd environment where URL is monkey-patched or not available
+it('jest-expect-no-url', () => {
+  (globalThis as any).URL = {}
+  expect('hello').toEqual('hello')
+
+  delete (globalThis as any).URL
+  expect('hello').toEqual('hello')
+})