diff --git a/artiq/language/core.py b/artiq/language/core.py
index b60ef83e5..dc063ab73 100644
--- a/artiq/language/core.py
+++ b/artiq/language/core.py
@@ -113,7 +113,8 @@ def kernel(arg):
         def real_decorator(k_function):
             @_wraps(k_function)
             def run_on_core(exp, *k_args, **k_kwargs):
-                getattr(exp, arg).run(k_function, ((exp,) + k_args), k_kwargs)
+                return getattr(exp, arg).run(k_function, 
+                                             ((exp,) + k_args), k_kwargs)
             run_on_core.k_function_info = _KernelFunctionInfo(
                 core_name=arg, k_function=k_function)
             return run_on_core
@@ -121,7 +122,7 @@ def kernel(arg):
     else:
         @_wraps(arg)
         def run_on_core(exp, *k_args, **k_kwargs):
-            exp.core.run(arg, ((exp,) + k_args), k_kwargs)
+            return exp.core.run(arg, ((exp,) + k_args), k_kwargs)
         run_on_core.k_function_info = _KernelFunctionInfo(
             core_name="core", k_function=arg)
         return run_on_core