diff --git a/py/objcomplex.c b/py/objcomplex.c
index 4c05886f023808f31d0d65905144f72a7d2d008d..426e76e5f726b022ab6f69dfbd738a4503103c40 100644
--- a/py/objcomplex.c
+++ b/py/objcomplex.c
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ mp_obj_t mp_obj_complex_binary_op(mp_uint_t op, mp_float_t lhs_real, mp_float_t
             mp_float_t abs1 = MICROPY_FLOAT_C_FUN(sqrt)(lhs_real*lhs_real + lhs_imag*lhs_imag);
             if (abs1 == 0) {
                 if (rhs_imag == 0 && rhs_real >= 0) {
-                    lhs_real = 1 ? rhs_real == 0 : 0;
+                    lhs_real = (rhs_real == 0);
                     rhs_real = 0;
                 } else {
                     mp_raise_msg(&mp_type_ZeroDivisionError, "0.0 to a complex power");