diff --git a/artiq/compiler/transforms/artiq_ir_generator.py b/artiq/compiler/transforms/artiq_ir_generator.py
index d341b4225..2ee7b448c 100644
--- a/artiq/compiler/transforms/artiq_ir_generator.py
+++ b/artiq/compiler/transforms/artiq_ir_generator.py
@@ -451,6 +451,7 @@ class ARTIQIRGenerator(algorithm.Visitor):
             self.current_block = head
             old_continue, self.continue_target = self.continue_target, head
             cond = self.visit(node.test)
+            cond = self.coerce_to_bool(cond)
             post_head = self.current_block
 
             break_block = self.add_block("while.break")
diff --git a/artiq/test/lit/integration/if.py b/artiq/test/lit/integration/if.py
index fab6c3df0..8d8eec4f2 100644
--- a/artiq/test/lit/integration/if.py
+++ b/artiq/test/lit/integration/if.py
@@ -19,3 +19,9 @@ else:
 
 assert (0 if True else 1) == 0
 assert (0 if False else 1) == 1
+
+if 0:
+    assert True
+
+if 1:
+    assert True
diff --git a/artiq/test/lit/integration/while.py b/artiq/test/lit/integration/while.py
index e7d03c0d7..397055c9a 100644
--- a/artiq/test/lit/integration/while.py
+++ b/artiq/test/lit/integration/while.py
@@ -53,3 +53,10 @@ while True:
     assert False
 else:
     assert False
+
+while 0:
+    assert False
+
+while 1:
+    assert True
+    break