diff --git a/nemo_skills/evaluation/math_grader.py b/nemo_skills/evaluation/math_grader.py
index 77c7e26e7e..dd75529c4b 100644
--- a/nemo_skills/evaluation/math_grader.py
+++ b/nemo_skills/evaluation/math_grader.py
@@ -65,17 +65,24 @@ def math_equal(gt_answer, predicted_answer, take_modulo: int | None = None, **kw
     gt_answer = _additional_normalization(gt_answer)
     predicted_answer = _additional_normalization(predicted_answer)
 
-    # Try literal comparison
-    literal_pattern = r"[a-zA-Z ,]+|[0-9 ]+"
     normalized_gt = normalize_latex(gt_answer, NormalizationConfig)
     normalized_pred = normalize_latex(predicted_answer, NormalizationConfig)
-    is_literal = re.fullmatch(literal_pattern, normalized_gt) and re.fullmatch(literal_pattern, normalized_pred)
     is_normalized_equal = normalized_gt.replace(" ", "") == normalized_pred.replace(" ", "")
 
-    if is_literal or is_normalized_equal:
-        return is_normalized_equal
+    # Fast path: if normalized strings are equal, no need for symbolic comparison
+    if is_normalized_equal:
+        return True
 
-    # Fallback to symbolic comparison
+    # For TEXT literals (not numeric), use direct string comparison
+    text_literal_pattern = r"[a-zA-Z ,]+"
+    is_text_literal = re.fullmatch(text_literal_pattern, normalized_gt) and re.fullmatch(
+        text_literal_pattern, normalized_pred
+    )
+    if is_text_literal:
+        return False  # Already checked is_normalized_equal above
+
+    # Fallback to symbolic comparison via math_verify
+    # This handles leading zeros ("016" == "16"), fractions, expressions, etc.
     current_gt_answer = gt_answer
     current_predicted_answer = predicted_answer
 
diff --git a/tests/test_math_equal.py b/tests/test_math_equal.py
index 9d773463db..972861df9c 100644
--- a/tests/test_math_equal.py
+++ b/tests/test_math_equal.py
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@
         ("185", "185\\"),
         ("185\\", "185\\"),
         (".185", "0.185"),
+        ("016", "16"),  # Leading zeros handled by math_verify
+        ("007", "7"),  # Multiple leading zeros handled by math_verify
         ("\\frac {1}{2}", 0.5),
         ("17\\text{ any text}", "17"),
         ("\$10", "10"),