diff --git a/artiq/coredevice/comm_kernel.py b/artiq/coredevice/comm_kernel.py
index e5340d19c..12e47d938 100644
--- a/artiq/coredevice/comm_kernel.py
+++ b/artiq/coredevice/comm_kernel.py
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ def _receive_list(kernel, embedding_map):
     tag = chr(kernel._read_int8())
     if tag == "b":
         buffer = kernel._read(length)
-        return list(buffer)
+        return [bool(a) for a in buffer]
     elif tag == "i":
         buffer = kernel._read(4 * length)
         return list(struct.unpack(kernel.endian + "%sl" % length, buffer))
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ def _receive_array(kernel, embedding_map):
     length = numpy.prod(shape)
     if tag == "b":
         buffer = kernel._read(length)
-        elems = numpy.ndarray((length, ), 'B', buffer)
+        elems = numpy.ndarray((length, ), '?', buffer)
     elif tag == "i":
         buffer = kernel._read(4 * length)
         elems = numpy.ndarray((length, ), kernel.endian + 'i4', buffer)
diff --git a/artiq/test/coredevice/test_embedding.py b/artiq/test/coredevice/test_embedding.py
index 23d74fd7e..275328d02 100644
--- a/artiq/test/coredevice/test_embedding.py
+++ b/artiq/test/coredevice/test_embedding.py
@@ -55,6 +55,9 @@ class RoundtripTest(ExperimentCase):
     def test_list(self):
         self.assertRoundtrip([10])
 
+    def test_bool_list(self):
+        self.assertRoundtrip([True, False])
+
     def test_object(self):
         obj = object()
         self.assertRoundtrip(obj)
@@ -69,6 +72,7 @@ class RoundtripTest(ExperimentCase):
         self.assertRoundtrip([(0x12345678, [("foo", [0.0, 1.0], [0, 1])])])
 
     def test_array_1d(self):
+        self.assertArrayRoundtrip(numpy.array([True, False]))
         self.assertArrayRoundtrip(numpy.array([1, 2, 3], dtype=numpy.int32))
         self.assertArrayRoundtrip(numpy.array([1.0, 2.0, 3.0]))
         self.assertArrayRoundtrip(numpy.array(["a", "b", "c"]))