diff --git a/config/config.go b/config/config.go
index b8e484130a..6f54c52368 100644
--- a/config/config.go
+++ b/config/config.go
@@ -968,11 +968,7 @@ type InhibitRule struct {
 	TargetMatchers Matchers `yaml:"target_matchers,omitempty" json:"target_matchers,omitempty"`
 	// A set of labels that must be equal between the source and target alert
 	// for them to be a match.
-	Equal model.LabelNames `yaml:"-" json:"-"`
-	// EqualStr allows us to validate the label depending on whether UTF-8 is
-	// enabled or disabled. It should be removed when Alertmanager is updated
-	// to use the validation modes in recent versions of prometheus/common.
-	EqualStr []string `yaml:"equal,omitempty" json:"equal,omitempty"`
+	Equal []string `yaml:"equal,omitempty" json:"equal,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // UnmarshalYAML implements the yaml.Unmarshaler interface for InhibitRule.
@@ -994,12 +990,11 @@ func (r *InhibitRule) UnmarshalYAML(unmarshal func(interface{}) error) error {
 		}
 	}
 
-	for _, l := range r.EqualStr {
+	for _, l := range r.Equal {
 		labelName := model.LabelName(l)
 		if !compat.IsValidLabelName(labelName) {
 			return fmt.Errorf("invalid label name %q in equal list", l)
 		}
-		r.Equal = append(r.Equal, labelName)
 	}
 
 	return nil
diff --git a/config/config_test.go b/config/config_test.go
index 99984827d5..728d7670b1 100644
--- a/config/config_test.go
+++ b/config/config_test.go
@@ -1461,7 +1461,7 @@ func TestInhibitRuleEqual(t *testing.T) {
 	// The inhibition rule should have the expected equal labels.
 	require.Len(t, c.InhibitRules, 1)
 	r := c.InhibitRules[0]
-	require.Equal(t, model.LabelNames{"qux", "corge"}, r.Equal)
+	require.Equal(t, []string{"qux", "corge"}, r.Equal)
 
 	// Should not be able to load configuration with UTF-8 in equals list.
 	_, err = LoadFile("testdata/conf.inhibit-equal-utf8.yml")
@@ -1484,7 +1484,7 @@ func TestInhibitRuleEqual(t *testing.T) {
 	// The inhibition rule should have the expected equal labels.
 	require.Len(t, c.InhibitRules, 1)
 	r = c.InhibitRules[0]
-	require.Equal(t, model.LabelNames{"qux", "corge"}, r.Equal)
+	require.Equal(t, []string{"qux", "corge"}, r.Equal)
 
 	// Should also be able to load configuration with UTF-8 in equals list.
 	c, err = LoadFile("testdata/conf.inhibit-equal-utf8.yml")
@@ -1493,5 +1493,5 @@ func TestInhibitRuleEqual(t *testing.T) {
 	// The inhibition rule should have the expected equal labels.
 	require.Len(t, c.InhibitRules, 1)
 	r = c.InhibitRules[0]
-	require.Equal(t, model.LabelNames{"qux🙂", "corge"}, r.Equal)
+	require.Equal(t, []string{"qux🙂", "corge"}, r.Equal)
 }
diff --git a/inhibit/inhibit.go b/inhibit/inhibit.go
index eb1f7752ea..458367cb0b 100644
--- a/inhibit/inhibit.go
+++ b/inhibit/inhibit.go
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ func NewInhibitRule(cr config.InhibitRule) *InhibitRule {
 
 	equal := map[model.LabelName]struct{}{}
 	for _, ln := range cr.Equal {
-		equal[ln] = struct{}{}
+		equal[model.LabelName(ln)] = struct{}{}
 	}
 
 	return &InhibitRule{
diff --git a/inhibit/inhibit_test.go b/inhibit/inhibit_test.go
index 1f6f4ef250..59ff52b195 100644
--- a/inhibit/inhibit_test.go
+++ b/inhibit/inhibit_test.go
@@ -144,12 +144,12 @@ func TestInhibitRuleMatches(t *testing.T) {
 	rule1 := config.InhibitRule{
 		SourceMatch: map[string]string{"s1": "1"},
 		TargetMatch: map[string]string{"t1": "1"},
-		Equal:       model.LabelNames{"e"},
+		Equal:       []string{"e"},
 	}
 	rule2 := config.InhibitRule{
 		SourceMatch: map[string]string{"s2": "1"},
 		TargetMatch: map[string]string{"t2": "1"},
-		Equal:       model.LabelNames{"e"},
+		Equal:       []string{"e"},
 	}
 
 	m := types.NewMarker(prometheus.NewRegistry())
@@ -240,12 +240,12 @@ func TestInhibitRuleMatchers(t *testing.T) {
 	rule1 := config.InhibitRule{
 		SourceMatchers: config.Matchers{&labels.Matcher{Type: labels.MatchEqual, Name: "s1", Value: "1"}},
 		TargetMatchers: config.Matchers{&labels.Matcher{Type: labels.MatchNotEqual, Name: "t1", Value: "1"}},
-		Equal:          model.LabelNames{"e"},
+		Equal:          []string{"e"},
 	}
 	rule2 := config.InhibitRule{
 		SourceMatchers: config.Matchers{&labels.Matcher{Type: labels.MatchEqual, Name: "s2", Value: "1"}},
 		TargetMatchers: config.Matchers{&labels.Matcher{Type: labels.MatchEqual, Name: "t2", Value: "1"}},
-		Equal:          model.LabelNames{"e"},
+		Equal:          []string{"e"},
 	}
 
 	m := types.NewMarker(prometheus.NewRegistry())
@@ -374,7 +374,7 @@ func TestInhibit(t *testing.T) {
 		return config.InhibitRule{
 			SourceMatch: map[string]string{"s": "1"},
 			TargetMatch: map[string]string{"t": "1"},
-			Equal:       model.LabelNames{"e"},
+			Equal:       []string{"e"},
 		}
 	}
 	// alertOne is muted by alertTwo when it is active.