diff --git a/artiq/compiler/builtins.py b/artiq/compiler/builtins.py
index d60db0840..ce2e23e27 100644
--- a/artiq/compiler/builtins.py
+++ b/artiq/compiler/builtins.py
@@ -181,6 +181,9 @@ def fn_len():
 def fn_round():
     return types.TBuiltinFunction("round")
 
+def fn_abs():
+    return types.TBuiltinFunction("abs")
+
 def fn_min():
     return types.TBuiltinFunction("min")
 
diff --git a/artiq/compiler/prelude.py b/artiq/compiler/prelude.py
index 24a7bd1fa..ee47168ac 100644
--- a/artiq/compiler/prelude.py
+++ b/artiq/compiler/prelude.py
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ def globals():
         # Built-in Python functions
         "len":                  builtins.fn_len(),
         "round":                builtins.fn_round(),
+        "abs":                  builtins.fn_abs(),
         "min":                  builtins.fn_min(),
         "max":                  builtins.fn_max(),
         "print":                builtins.fn_print(),
diff --git a/artiq/compiler/transforms/artiq_ir_generator.py b/artiq/compiler/transforms/artiq_ir_generator.py
index 1d45d690c..4e3c3394b 100644
--- a/artiq/compiler/transforms/artiq_ir_generator.py
+++ b/artiq/compiler/transforms/artiq_ir_generator.py
@@ -1700,6 +1700,16 @@ class ARTIQIRGenerator(algorithm.Visitor):
                 return self.append(ir.Builtin("round", [arg], node.type))
             else:
                 assert False
+        elif types.is_builtin(typ, "abs"):
+            if len(node.args) == 1 and len(node.keywords) == 0:
+                arg = self.visit(node.args[0])
+                neg = self.append(
+                    ir.Arith(ast.Sub(loc=None), ir.Constant(0, arg.type), arg))
+                cond = self.append(
+                    ir.Compare(ast.Lt(loc=None), arg, ir.Constant(0, arg.type)))
+                return self.append(ir.Select(cond, neg, arg))
+            else:
+                assert False
         elif types.is_builtin(typ, "min"):
             if len(node.args) == 2 and len(node.keywords) == 0:
                 arg0, arg1 = map(self.visit, node.args)
diff --git a/artiq/compiler/transforms/inferencer.py b/artiq/compiler/transforms/inferencer.py
index 9142658b3..2f5d1800c 100644
--- a/artiq/compiler/transforms/inferencer.py
+++ b/artiq/compiler/transforms/inferencer.py
@@ -811,6 +811,28 @@ class Inferencer(algorithm.Visitor):
                             arg.loc, None)
             else:
                 diagnose(valid_forms())
+        elif types.is_builtin(typ, "abs"):
+            fn = typ.name
+
+            valid_forms = lambda: [
+                valid_form("abs(x:numpy.int?) -> numpy.int?"),
+                valid_form("abs(x:float) -> float")
+            ]
+
+            if len(node.args) == 1 and len(node.keywords) == 0:
+                (arg,) = node.args
+                if builtins.is_int(arg.type) or builtins.is_float(arg.type):
+                    self._unify(arg.type, node.type,
+                                arg.loc, node.loc)
+                elif types.is_var(arg.type):
+                    pass # undetermined yet
+                else:
+                    diag = diagnostic.Diagnostic("error",
+                        "the arguments of abs() must be of a numeric type", {},
+                        node.func.loc)
+                    self.engine.process(diag)
+            else:
+                diagnose(valid_forms())
         elif types.is_builtin(typ, "min") or types.is_builtin(typ, "max"):
             fn = typ.name
 
diff --git a/artiq/test/lit/inferencer/builtin_calls.py b/artiq/test/lit/inferencer/builtin_calls.py
index be1b797d9..a4b2f81fe 100644
--- a/artiq/test/lit/inferencer/builtin_calls.py
+++ b/artiq/test/lit/inferencer/builtin_calls.py
@@ -30,3 +30,9 @@ len([])
 
 # CHECK-L: round:<function round>(1.0:float):numpy.int?
 round(1.0)
+
+# CHECK-L: abs:<function abs>(1:numpy.int?):numpy.int?
+abs(1)
+
+# CHECK-L: abs:<function abs>(1.0:float):float
+abs(1.0)
diff --git a/artiq/test/lit/inferencer/error_builtin_calls.py b/artiq/test/lit/inferencer/error_builtin_calls.py
index bb1b8ca04..643011f2d 100644
--- a/artiq/test/lit/inferencer/error_builtin_calls.py
+++ b/artiq/test/lit/inferencer/error_builtin_calls.py
@@ -10,5 +10,8 @@ list(1)
 # CHECK-L: ${LINE:+1}: error: the arguments of min() must be of a numeric type
 min([1], [1])
 
+# CHECK-L: ${LINE:+1}: error: the arguments of abs() must be of a numeric type
+abs([1.0])
+
 # CHECK-L: ${LINE:+1}: error: strings currently cannot be constructed
 str(1)
diff --git a/artiq/test/lit/integration/abs.py b/artiq/test/lit/integration/abs.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..877cf6c9a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/artiq/test/lit/integration/abs.py
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+# RUN: %python -m artiq.compiler.testbench.jit %s
+# RUN: %python %s
+
+assert abs(1234) == 1234
+assert abs(-1234) == 1234
+assert abs(1234.0) == 1234.0
+assert abs(-1234.0) == 1234