diff --git a/python/src/eval.py b/python/src/eval.py
index 9506da3..bb7d0d7 100644
--- a/python/src/eval.py
+++ b/python/src/eval.py
@@ -191,9 +191,10 @@ async def _eval_ast(ast):
             # short-curcuit the evaluation: if the condition text is literally
             # 'true' or 'false', then use it to dispatch into the :if branch.
             # That way we can use FFI functions with :if statements
-            prompt_result = "" if condition not in ["false", "true"] \
-                else condition
-            MAX_RETRIES = 3
+            prompt_result = (
+                "" if condition not in ["false", "true"] else condition
+            )
+            MAX_RETRIES = 3  # TODO: move to config
             retries = 0
             prompt = IF_PROMPT + condition
             while prompt_result != "true" and prompt_result != "false":
diff --git a/python/tests/test_eval.py b/python/tests/test_eval.py
index c78dc98..3d2fa81 100644
--- a/python/tests/test_eval.py
+++ b/python/tests/test_eval.py
@@ -6,16 +6,36 @@
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_parameters():
     prompt = "[:foo][:foo]"
-    await metaprompt(prompt, Config(parameters={"foo": "bar"})) == "barbar"
+    assert (
+        await metaprompt(prompt, Config(parameters={"foo": "bar"})) == "barbar"
+    )
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_assign1():
     prompt = "[:foo=bar][:foo][:foo]"
-    await metaprompt(prompt) == "barbar"
+    assert await metaprompt(prompt) == "barbar"
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_assign2():
     prompt = "[:foo=bar][:foo=[:foo][:foo]][:foo]"
-    await metaprompt(prompt) == "barbar"
+    assert await metaprompt(prompt) == "barbar"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_if_1():
+    prompt = "[:if false :then foo :else bar]"
+    assert await metaprompt(prompt) == " bar"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_if_2():
+    prompt = "[:if true :then foo :else bar]"
+    assert await metaprompt(prompt) == " foo "
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_if_3():
+    prompt = "[:v1=tr][:v2=ue][:if [:v1][:v2] :then foo :else bar]"
+    assert await metaprompt(prompt) == " foo "