diff --git a/artiq/compiler/tools.py b/artiq/compiler/tools.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..63911bc54
--- /dev/null
+++ b/artiq/compiler/tools.py
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+import ast
+
+def eval_ast(expr, symdict=dict()):
+	if not isinstance(expr, ast.Expression):
+		expr = ast.Expression(expr)
+	code = compile(expr, "<ast>", "eval")
+	return eval(code, symdict)#
diff --git a/artiq/compiler/transform.py b/artiq/compiler/transform.py
index 75351e3ab..05010fbcd 100644
--- a/artiq/compiler/transform.py
+++ b/artiq/compiler/transform.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import inspect, textwrap, ast, types
 
 from artiq.language import units
 from artiq.compiler import unparse
+from artiq.compiler.tools import eval_ast
 
 def find_kernel_body(node):
 	while True:
@@ -14,12 +15,6 @@ def find_kernel_body(node):
 		else:
 			raise TypeError
 
-def eval_ast(expr, symdict=dict()):
-	if not isinstance(expr, ast.Expression):
-		expr = ast.Expression(expr)
-	code = compile(expr, "<ast>", "eval")
-	return eval(code, symdict)
-
 def _try_eval_with_units(node):
 	try:
 		r = eval_ast(node, units.__dict__)