diff --git a/mitogen/core.py b/mitogen/core.py
index d2d20723..8f633f1f 100644
--- a/mitogen/core.py
+++ b/mitogen/core.py
@@ -121,9 +121,15 @@ class TimeoutError(Error):
 
 
 class Dead(object):
+    def __hash__(self):
+        return hash(Dead)
+
     def __eq__(self, other):
         return type(other) is Dead
 
+    def __ne__(self, other):
+        return type(other) is not Dead
+
     def __reduce__(self):
         return (_unpickle_dead, ())