diff --git a/paramiko/hostkeys.py b/paramiko/hostkeys.py
index 9bcf0d5..12a3f61 100644
--- a/paramiko/hostkeys.py
+++ b/paramiko/hostkeys.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ import UserDict
 from paramiko.common import *
 from paramiko.dsskey import DSSKey
 from paramiko.rsakey import RSAKey
-from paramiko.util import get_logger
+from paramiko.util import get_logger, constant_time_bytes_eq
 from paramiko.ecdsakey import ECDSAKey
 
 
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ class HostKeys (UserDict.DictMixin):
         entries = []
         for e in self._entries:
             for h in e.hostnames:
-                if (h.startswith('|1|') and (self.hash_host(hostname, h) == h)) or (h == hostname):
+                if h.startswith('|1|') and constant_time_bytes_eq(self.hash_host(hostname, h), h) or h == hostname:
                     entries.append(e)
         if len(entries) == 0:
             return None
diff --git a/paramiko/packet.py b/paramiko/packet.py
index 6ab7363..af80795 100644
--- a/paramiko/packet.py
+++ b/paramiko/packet.py
@@ -357,7 +357,7 @@ class Packetizer (object):
             mac = post_packet[:self.__mac_size_in]
             mac_payload = struct.pack('>II', self.__sequence_number_in, packet_size) + packet
             my_mac = compute_hmac(self.__mac_key_in, mac_payload, self.__mac_engine_in)[:self.__mac_size_in]
-            if my_mac != mac:
+            if not util.constant_time_bytes_eq(my_mac, mac):
                 raise SSHException('Mismatched MAC')
         padding = ord(packet[0])
         payload = packet[1:packet_size - padding]
diff --git a/paramiko/util.py b/paramiko/util.py
index 85ee6b0..9db512d 100644
--- a/paramiko/util.py
+++ b/paramiko/util.py
@@ -309,3 +309,12 @@ class Counter (object):
     def new(cls, nbits, initial_value=1L, overflow=0L):
         return cls(nbits, initial_value=initial_value, overflow=overflow)
     new = classmethod(new)
+
+
+def constant_time_bytes_eq(a, b):
+    if len(a) != len(b):
+        return False
+    res = 0
+    for i in xrange(len(a)):
+        res |= ord(a[i]) ^ ord(b[i])
+    return res == 0
diff --git a/sites/www/changelog.rst b/sites/www/changelog.rst
index 89db059..fa15c0e 100644
--- a/sites/www/changelog.rst
+++ b/sites/www/changelog.rst
@@ -2,6 +2,10 @@
 Changelog
 =========
 
+* :bug:`-` Use constant-time hash comparison operations where possible, to
+  protect against `timing-based attacks
+  <http://codahale.com/a-lesson-in-timing-attacks/>`_. Thanks to Alex Gaynor
+  for the patch.
 * :release:`1.12.2 <2014-02-14>`
 * :release:`1.11.4 <2014-02-14>`
 * :release:`1.10.6 <2014-02-14>`