diff --git a/artiq/language/units.py b/artiq/language/units.py
index 52a456e3a..fc8b530f6 100644
--- a/artiq/language/units.py
+++ b/artiq/language/units.py
@@ -262,3 +262,5 @@ def strip_unit(value, unit):
                 raise DimensionError
             else:
                 return value.amount
+        else:
+            return value