diff --git a/readthedocs/ravi-reference.rst b/readthedocs/ravi-reference.rst
index e1ed2fbd..0152e276 100644
--- a/readthedocs/ravi-reference.rst
+++ b/readthedocs/ravi-reference.rst
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@ The supported type-annotations are as follows:
   denotes a Lua table
 ``string``
   denotes a string
+``boolean``
+  denotes a boolean
 ``closure``
   denotes a function
 ``Name [. Name]*``
diff --git a/src/lcode.c b/src/lcode.c
index a9433581..4c89cc45 100644
--- a/src/lcode.c
+++ b/src/lcode.c
@@ -702,6 +702,8 @@ static void discharge2reg (FuncState *fs, expdesc *e, int reg) {
           luaK_codeABC(fs, OP_MOVE, reg, e->u.info, 0);
           if (ravi_type == RAVI_TM_STRING_OR_NIL)
             luaK_codeABC(fs, OP_RAVI_TOSTRING, reg, 0, 0);
+          else if (ravi_type == RAVI_TM_BOOLEAN_OR_NIL)
+            luaK_codeABC(fs, OP_RAVI_TOBOOLEAN, reg, 0, 0);
           else if (ravi_type == RAVI_TM_FUNCTION_OR_NIL)
             luaK_codeABC(fs, OP_RAVI_TOCLOSURE, reg, 0, 0);
           else if (ravi_type == RAVI_TM_USERDATA_OR_NIL && usertype)
@@ -870,6 +872,7 @@ static void check_valid_store(FuncState *fs, expdesc *var, expdesc *ex) {
        var->ravi_type_map == RAVI_TM_INTEGER_ARRAY ||
        var->ravi_type_map == RAVI_TM_TABLE ||
        var->ravi_type_map == RAVI_TM_STRING_OR_NIL ||
+       var->ravi_type_map == RAVI_TM_BOOLEAN_OR_NIL ||
        var->ravi_type_map == RAVI_TM_FUNCTION_OR_NIL ||
        var->ravi_type_map == RAVI_TM_USERDATA_OR_NIL)) {
     /* handled by MOVEI, MOVEF, MOVEIARRAY, MOVEFARRAY at runtime */
@@ -922,6 +925,15 @@ static void check_valid_store(FuncState *fs, expdesc *var, expdesc *ex) {
       fs->ls->L,
       "Invalid assignment: string expected"));
   }
+  else if (var->ravi_type_map == RAVI_TM_BOOLEAN_OR_NIL) {
+    if ((ex_ravi_type_map & ~RAVI_TM_BOOLEAN_OR_NIL) == 0)
+      return;
+    luaX_syntaxerror(
+      fs->ls,
+      luaO_pushfstring(
+      fs->ls->L,
+      "Invalid assignment: boolean expected"));
+  }
   else if (var->ravi_type_map == RAVI_TM_FUNCTION_OR_NIL) {
     if ((ex_ravi_type_map & ~RAVI_TM_FUNCTION_OR_NIL) == 0)
       return;
@@ -948,7 +960,7 @@ static OpCode check_valid_setupval(FuncState *fs, expdesc *var, expdesc *ex,
   OpCode op = OP_SETUPVAL;
   if ((var->ravi_type_map == RAVI_TM_INTEGER || var->ravi_type_map == RAVI_TM_FLOAT ||
        var->ravi_type_map == RAVI_TM_INTEGER_ARRAY || var->ravi_type_map == RAVI_TM_FLOAT_ARRAY ||
-       var->ravi_type_map == RAVI_TM_TABLE || var->ravi_type_map == RAVI_TM_STRING_OR_NIL ||
+       var->ravi_type_map == RAVI_TM_TABLE || var->ravi_type_map == RAVI_TM_STRING_OR_NIL || var->ravi_type_map == RAVI_TM_BOOLEAN_OR_NIL ||
        var->ravi_type_map == RAVI_TM_FUNCTION_OR_NIL || var->ravi_type_map == RAVI_TM_USERDATA_OR_NIL) &&
       ex->ravi_type_map & ~var->ravi_type_map) {
     if (var->ravi_type_map == RAVI_TM_INTEGER)
@@ -963,6 +975,8 @@ static OpCode check_valid_setupval(FuncState *fs, expdesc *var, expdesc *ex,
       op = OP_RAVI_SETUPVALT;
     else if (var->ravi_type_map == RAVI_TM_STRING_OR_NIL)
       luaK_codeABC(fs, OP_RAVI_TOSTRING, reg, 0, 0);
+    else if (var->ravi_type_map == RAVI_TM_BOOLEAN_OR_NIL)
+      luaK_codeABC(fs, OP_RAVI_TOBOOLEAN, reg, 0, 0);
     else if (var->ravi_type_map == RAVI_TM_FUNCTION_OR_NIL)
       luaK_codeABC(fs, OP_RAVI_TOCLOSURE, reg, 0, 0);
     else if (var->ravi_type_map == RAVI_TM_USERDATA_OR_NIL) {
@@ -1517,6 +1531,10 @@ static void code_type_assertion(FuncState *fs, UnOpr op, expdesc *e, TString *us
         opcode = OP_RAVI_TOINT;
         tm = RAVI_TM_INTEGER;
       }
+      else if (op == OPR_TO_BOOLEAN && e->ravi_type_map != RAVI_TM_BOOLEAN) {
+        opcode = OP_RAVI_TOBOOLEAN;
+        tm = RAVI_TM_BOOLEAN;
+      }
       else if (op == OPR_TO_INTARRAY && e->ravi_type_map != RAVI_TM_INTEGER_ARRAY) {
         if (e->ravi_type_map == RAVI_TM_TABLE && e->pc >= 0) {
           Instruction *i = &fs->f->code[e->pc];
@@ -1551,6 +1569,10 @@ static void code_type_assertion(FuncState *fs, UnOpr op, expdesc *e, TString *us
         opcode = OP_RAVI_TOSTRING;
         tm = RAVI_TM_STRING_OR_NIL;
       }
+      else if (op == OPR_TO_BOOLEAN && (e->ravi_type_map & (~RAVI_TM_BOOLEAN_OR_NIL)) != 0) {
+        opcode = OP_RAVI_TOBOOLEAN;
+        tm = RAVI_TM_BOOLEAN_OR_NIL;
+      }
       else if (op == OPR_TO_CLOSURE && (e->ravi_type_map & (~RAVI_TM_FUNCTION_OR_NIL)) != 0) {
         opcode = OP_RAVI_TOCLOSURE;
         tm = RAVI_TM_FUNCTION_OR_NIL;
@@ -1598,7 +1620,7 @@ void luaK_prefix (FuncState *fs, UnOpr op, expdesc *e, int line, TString *userty
     case OPR_LEN:
       codeunexpval(fs, cast(OpCode, op + OP_UNM), e, line);
       break;
-    case OPR_TO_INTEGER: case OPR_TO_NUMBER: case OPR_TO_INTARRAY:
+    case OPR_TO_INTEGER: case OPR_TO_NUMBER: case OPR_TO_INTARRAY: case OPR_TO_BOOLEAN:
     case OPR_TO_NUMARRAY: case OPR_TO_TABLE: case OPR_TO_STRING: case OPR_TO_CLOSURE:
       code_type_assertion(fs, op, e, NULL); break;
     case OPR_TO_TYPE:
diff --git a/src/lcode.h b/src/lcode.h
index 86743191..e428b1c7 100644
--- a/src/lcode.h
+++ b/src/lcode.h
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ typedef enum BinOpr {
 /** RAVI change */
 typedef enum UnOpr { OPR_MINUS, OPR_BNOT, OPR_NOT, OPR_LEN, OPR_TO_INTEGER,
   OPR_TO_NUMBER, OPR_TO_INTARRAY, OPR_TO_NUMARRAY, OPR_TO_TABLE, OPR_TO_STRING, 
-  OPR_TO_CLOSURE, OPR_TO_TYPE, OPR_NOUNOPR } UnOpr;
+  OPR_TO_BOOLEAN, OPR_TO_CLOSURE, OPR_TO_TYPE, OPR_NOUNOPR } UnOpr;
 
 /* get (pointer to) instruction of given 'expdesc' */
 #define getinstruction(fs,e)	((fs)->f->code[(e)->u.info])
diff --git a/src/llex.c b/src/llex.c
index 84eec88d..6302068c 100644
--- a/src/llex.c
+++ b/src/llex.c
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ static const char *const luaX_tokens [] = {
     "<<", ">>", "::", "<eof>",
     "<number>", "<integer>", "<name>", "<string>",
     "@integer", "@number", "@integer[]", "@number[]",
-    "@table", "@string", "@closure"
+    "@table", "@string", "@boolean", "@closure"
 };
 
 
@@ -478,6 +478,8 @@ static int casttoken(LexState *ls, SemInfo *seminfo) {
     tok = TK_TO_TABLE;
   else if (strncmp(s, "@string", n) == 0)
     tok = TK_TO_STRING;
+  else if (strncmp(s, "@boolean", n) == 0)
+    tok = TK_TO_BOOLEAN;
   else if (strncmp(s, "@closure", n) == 0)
     tok = TK_TO_CLOSURE;
   else {
diff --git a/src/llex.h b/src/llex.h
index 6b66fa9b..98104351 100644
--- a/src/llex.h
+++ b/src/llex.h
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ enum RESERVED {
   TK_FLT, TK_INT, TK_NAME, TK_STRING,
   /** RAVI extensions */
   TK_TO_INTEGER, TK_TO_NUMBER, TK_TO_INTARRAY, TK_TO_NUMARRAY,
-  TK_TO_TABLE, TK_TO_STRING, TK_TO_CLOSURE
+  TK_TO_TABLE, TK_TO_STRING, TK_TO_BOOLEAN, TK_TO_CLOSURE
 };
 
 /* number of reserved words */
diff --git a/src/lopcodes.c b/src/lopcodes.c
index ad560b33..b2a8a2d5 100644
--- a/src/lopcodes.c
+++ b/src/lopcodes.c
@@ -112,6 +112,7 @@ LUAI_DDEF const char *const luaP_opnames[NUM_OPCODES+1] = {
   "TOFARRAY", /* A R(A) := to_arrayf(R(A)) */
   "TOTAB",     /* A R(A) := to_table(R(A)) */
   "TOSTRING",
+  "TOBOOLEAN",
   "TOCLOSURE",
   "TOTYPE",
 
@@ -256,6 +257,7 @@ LUAI_DDEF const lu_byte luaP_opmodes[NUM_OPCODES] = {
  ,opmode(0, 1, OpArgN, OpArgN, iABC)    /* OP_RAVI_TOFARRAY A R(A) := check_array_of_float(R(A)) */
  ,opmode(0, 1, OpArgN, OpArgN, iABC)    /* OP_RAVI_TOTAB A R(A) := check_table(R(A)) */
  ,opmode(0, 1, OpArgN, OpArgN, iABC)    /* OP_RAVI_TOSTRING */
+ ,opmode(0, 1, OpArgN, OpArgN, iABC)    /* OP_RAVI_TOBOOLEAN */
  ,opmode(0, 1, OpArgN, OpArgN, iABC)    /* OP_RAVI_TOCLOSURE */
  ,opmode(0, 1, OpArgK, OpArgN, iABx)    /* OP_RAVI_TOTYPE */
 
diff --git a/src/lopcodes.h b/src/lopcodes.h
index e5381eb4..0f277070 100644
--- a/src/lopcodes.h
+++ b/src/lopcodes.h
@@ -223,6 +223,7 @@ OP_RAVI_TOIARRAY, /* A R(A) := to_arrayi(R(A)) */
 OP_RAVI_TOFARRAY, /* A R(A) := to_arrayf(R(A)) */
 OP_RAVI_TOTAB,    /* A R(A) := to_table(R(A)) */
 OP_RAVI_TOSTRING, /* A R(A) := assert_string(R(A)) */
+OP_RAVI_TOBOOLEAN, /* A R(A) := assert_string(R(A)) */
 OP_RAVI_TOCLOSURE, /* A R(A) := assert_closure(R(A)) */
 OP_RAVI_TOTYPE,  /* A R(A) := assert_usertype(R(A)), where usertype has metatable in Lua registry */
 
diff --git a/src/lparser.c b/src/lparser.c
index ee3d7f2e..c60bb352 100644
--- a/src/lparser.c
+++ b/src/lparser.c
@@ -639,9 +639,10 @@ static void ravi_code_typecoersion(LexState *ls, int reg, ravi_type_map tm,
     luaK_codeABx(ls->fs, OP_RAVI_TOTYPE, reg, luaK_stringK(ls->fs, typename));
   else if (tm == RAVI_TM_STRING_OR_NIL)
     luaK_codeABC(ls->fs, OP_RAVI_TOSTRING, reg, 0, 0);
+  else if (tm == RAVI_TM_BOOLEAN_OR_NIL)
+    luaK_codeABC(ls->fs, OP_RAVI_TOBOOLEAN, reg, 0, 0);
   else if (tm == RAVI_TM_FUNCTION_OR_NIL)
     luaK_codeABC(ls->fs, OP_RAVI_TOCLOSURE, reg, 0, 0);
-  // TODO coerse to boolean
 }
 
 /* RAVI code an instruction to initialize a scalar typed value
@@ -1279,8 +1280,8 @@ static ravi_type_map declare_localvar(LexState *ls, TString **pusertype) {
       tm = RAVI_TM_TABLE;
     else if (strcmp(str, "string") == 0)
       tm = RAVI_TM_STRING_OR_NIL;
-    //else if (strcmp(str, "boolean") == 0)
-    //  tm = RAVI_TM_BOOLEAN_OR_NIL;
+    else if (strcmp(str, "boolean") == 0)
+      tm = RAVI_TM_BOOLEAN_OR_NIL;
     else if (strcmp(str, "any") == 0)
       tm = RAVI_TM_ANY;
     else {
@@ -1458,7 +1459,7 @@ static void ravi_typecheck(LexState *ls, expdesc *v, ravi_type_map *var_types,
   /* if we are calling a function then convert return types */
   else if ((vartype == RAVI_TM_FLOAT || vartype == RAVI_TM_INTEGER ||
             vartype == RAVI_TM_FLOAT_ARRAY || vartype == RAVI_TM_INTEGER_ARRAY ||
-            vartype == RAVI_TM_TABLE || vartype == RAVI_TM_STRING_OR_NIL ||
+            vartype == RAVI_TM_TABLE || vartype == RAVI_TM_STRING_OR_NIL || vartype == RAVI_TM_BOOLEAN_OR_NIL ||
             vartype == RAVI_TM_FUNCTION_OR_NIL || vartype == RAVI_TM_USERDATA_OR_NIL) &&
             v->k == VCALL) {
     /* For local variable declarations that call functions e.g.
@@ -1488,7 +1489,8 @@ static void ravi_typecheck(LexState *ls, expdesc *v, ravi_type_map *var_types,
   }
   else if (vartype == RAVI_TM_STRING_OR_NIL ||
             vartype == RAVI_TM_FUNCTION_OR_NIL ||
-            vartype == RAVI_TM_USERDATA_OR_NIL) {
+            vartype == RAVI_TM_USERDATA_OR_NIL || 
+            vartype == RAVI_TM_BOOLEAN_OR_NIL) {
     TString *usertype = usertypes[n]; // NULL if var_types[n] is not userdata
     /* we need to make sure that a register is assigned to 'v'
       so that we can emit type assertion instructions. This would have 
@@ -1707,6 +1709,7 @@ static UnOpr getunopr (int op) {
     case TK_TO_NUMARRAY: return OPR_TO_NUMARRAY;
     case TK_TO_TABLE: return OPR_TO_TABLE;
     case TK_TO_STRING: return OPR_TO_STRING;
+    case TK_TO_BOOLEAN: return OPR_TO_BOOLEAN;
     case TK_TO_CLOSURE: return OPR_TO_CLOSURE;
     case '@': return OPR_TO_TYPE;
     default: return OPR_NOUNOPR;
diff --git a/src/lvm.c b/src/lvm.c
index 57dd0208..dda99427 100644
--- a/src/lvm.c
+++ b/src/lvm.c
@@ -79,7 +79,6 @@
 
 #endif
 
-
 /*
 ** Try to convert a value from string to a number value.
 ** If the value is not a string or is a string not representing
@@ -95,6 +94,33 @@ static int l_strton (const TValue *obj, TValue *result) {
     return (luaO_str2num(svalue(obj), result) == vslen(obj) + 1);
 }
 
+/*
+** Try to convert a value (string or numeric) to boolean.
+** On successful conversion returns 1 and stores value in (*b).
+** On failure, returns 0.
+*/
+int luaV_toboolean (const TValue *obj, int *b) {
+  // initial value is negative
+  (*b) = -1;
+  // try as integer
+  if (ttisinteger(obj)) {
+    int i = ivalue(obj);
+    if (i == 0)
+      (*b) = 0;
+    else if (i == 1)
+      (*b) = 1;
+  }
+  // try as string
+  else if (ttisstring(obj)) {
+    const char* s = getstr(tsvalue(obj));
+    if (strcmp(s, "false") == 0)
+      (*b) = 0;
+    else if (strcmp(s, "true") == 0)
+      (*b) = 1;
+  }
+  // if still negative (so unchanged) -- conversion failed
+  return ((*b) >= 0);
+}
 
 /*
 ** Try to convert a value to a float. The float case is already handled
@@ -1331,6 +1357,7 @@ int luaV_execute (lua_State *L) {
     &&vmlabel(OP_RAVI_TOFARRAY),
     &&vmlabel(OP_RAVI_TOTAB),
     &&vmlabel(OP_RAVI_TOSTRING),
+    &&vmlabel(OP_RAVI_TOBOOLEAN),
     &&vmlabel(OP_RAVI_TOCLOSURE),
     &&vmlabel(OP_RAVI_TOTYPE),
     &&vmlabel(OP_RAVI_MOVEI),
@@ -2589,6 +2616,13 @@ int luaV_execute (lua_State *L) {
           luaG_runerror(L, "string expected");        
         vmbreak;
       }
+      vmcase(OP_RAVI_TOBOOLEAN) {
+        int b;
+        if (RAVI_LIKELY(luaV_toboolean(ra, &b))) { setbvalue(ra, b); }
+        if (!ttisnil(ra) && RAVI_UNLIKELY(!ttisboolean(ra)))
+          luaG_runerror(L, "boolean expected");
+        vmbreak;
+      }
       vmcase(OP_RAVI_TOCLOSURE) {
         if (!ttisnil(ra) && RAVI_UNLIKELY(!ttisclosure(ra)))
           luaG_runerror(L, "closure expected");
diff --git a/src/lvm.h b/src/lvm.h
index 2d66c5a2..7703d318 100644
--- a/src/lvm.h
+++ b/src/lvm.h
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ typedef enum {
 
 
 
-
+LUAI_FUNC int luaV_toboolean (const TValue *obj, int *b);
 LUAI_FUNC int luaV_equalobj (lua_State *L, const TValue *t1, const TValue *t2);
 LUAI_FUNC int luaV_lessthan (lua_State *L, const TValue *l, const TValue *r);
 LUAI_FUNC int luaV_lessequal (lua_State *L, const TValue *l, const TValue *r);
diff --git a/src/ravi_jitshared.c b/src/ravi_jitshared.c
index d9407104..b4320bea 100644
--- a/src/ravi_jitshared.c
+++ b/src/ravi_jitshared.c
@@ -600,6 +600,7 @@ static const char Lua_header[] =
     "  (ttisinteger(o) ? (*(i) = ivalue(o), 1) : luaV_tointeger(o,i,LUA_FLOORN2I))\n"
     "extern int luaV_tonumber_(const TValue *obj, lua_Number *n);\n"
     "extern int luaV_tointeger(const TValue *obj, lua_Integer *p, int mode);\n"
+    "extern int luaV_toboolean (const TValue *obj, int *b); \n"
 #ifdef RAVI_DEFER_STATEMENT
     "extern int luaF_close (lua_State *L, StkId level, int status);\n"
 #else
@@ -1659,6 +1660,21 @@ static void emit_op_tostring(struct function *fn, int A, int pc) {
   membuff_add_string(&fn->body, "}\n");
 }
 
+static void emit_op_toboolean(struct function *fn, int A, int pc) {
+  (void)pc;
+  emit_reg(fn, "ra", A);
+  membuff_add_string(&fn->body, "int bool = 0;\n");
+  membuff_add_string(&fn->body, "if (luaV_toboolean(ra, &bool)) { setbvalue(ra, bool); }\n");
+  membuff_add_string(&fn->body, "if (!ttisboolean(ra)) {\n");
+#if GOTO_ON_ERROR
+  membuff_add_fstring(&fn->body, " error_code = %d;\n", Error_boolean_expected);
+  membuff_add_string(&fn->body, " goto Lraise_error;\n");
+#else
+  membuff_add_fstring(&fn->body, " raviV_raise_error(L, %d);\n", Error_boolean_expected);
+#endif
+  membuff_add_string(&fn->body, "}\n");
+}
+
 static void emit_op_totype(struct function *fn, int A, int Bx, int pc) {
   (void)pc;
   emit_reg(fn, "ra", A);
@@ -2267,6 +2283,9 @@ bool raviJ_codegen(struct lua_State *L, struct Proto *p, struct ravi_compile_opt
       case OP_RAVI_TOSTRING: {
         emit_op_tostring(&fn, A, pc);
       } break;
+      case OP_RAVI_TOBOOLEAN: {
+        emit_op_toboolean(&fn, A, pc);
+      } break;
       case OP_RAVI_TOCLOSURE: {
         emit_op_toclosure(&fn, A, pc);
       } break;
@@ -2391,6 +2410,7 @@ static const char *errortext[] = {"integer expected",
                                   "for initial value must be a number",
                                   "array index is out of bounds",
                                   "string expected",
+                                  "boolean expected",
                                   "closure expected",
                                   "type mismatch: wrong userdata type",
                                   NULL};
@@ -2404,3 +2424,4 @@ void raviV_raise_error_with_info(lua_State *L, int errorcode, const char *info)
   assert(errorcode == Error_type_mismatch);
   luaG_runerror(L, "type mismatch: expected %s", info);
 }
+
diff --git a/src/ravi_jitshared.h b/src/ravi_jitshared.h
index 4dd654f0..075b90a5 100644
--- a/src/ravi_jitshared.h
+++ b/src/ravi_jitshared.h
@@ -90,6 +90,7 @@ enum errorcode {
   Error_for_initial_value_must_be_number,
   Error_array_out_of_bounds,
   Error_string_expected,
+  Error_boolean_expected,
   Error_closure_expected,
   Error_type_mismatch,
 };
diff --git a/src/ravi_mirjit.c b/src/ravi_mirjit.c
index dc7baecd..3059b7cd 100644
--- a/src/ravi_mirjit.c
+++ b/src/ravi_mirjit.c
@@ -151,6 +151,7 @@ static LuaFunc Lua_functions[] = {
     { "luaF_newproto", luaF_newproto },
     { "luaD_inctop", luaD_inctop },
     { "luaM_realloc_", luaM_realloc_ },
+    { "luaV_toboolean", luaV_toboolean}, 
     { NULL, NULL }
 };
 
diff --git a/tests/language/ravi_errors.ravi b/tests/language/ravi_errors.ravi
index a35680d6..a5cd2376 100644
--- a/tests/language/ravi_errors.ravi
+++ b/tests/language/ravi_errors.ravi
@@ -101,6 +101,7 @@ checkmessage('@string 1', 'unexpected symbol near @string') -- FIXME bad error m
 checkmessage('@MyType 1', "unexpected symbol near '@'") -- FIXME bad error message
 checkmessage('local function x(y: MyType) end x(1)', 'type mismatch: expected MyType')
 checkmessage('local function x(y: string) end x(1)', 'string expected')
+checkmessage('local function x(y: boolean) end x(1)', 'boolean expected')
 checkmessage('local function x(y: closure) end x(1)', 'closure expected')
 checkmessage('local function x() local s: string; s = 1 end', "Invalid assignment: string expected near 'end'")
 checkmessage('function x() local s: string; s = (function() return 1 end)() end; x()', 'string expected')
@@ -109,4 +110,4 @@ checkmessage('table.intarray(0xFFFFFFFF)', 'array length out of range') -- Note
 checkmessage('table.numarray(0xFFFFFFFF)', 'array length out of range') -- Note only valid when int is 32 bits
 checkmessage('table.slice(table.intarray(3), 2, 0xFFFFFFFE)', 'cannot create a slice of given bounds')
 
-print 'Ok'
\ No newline at end of file
+print 'Ok'