diff --git a/Python/compile.c b/Python/compile.c
index 5688ef8..d2729d4 100644
--- a/Python/compile.c
+++ b/Python/compile.c
@@ -2301,13 +2301,12 @@
         return 0;
 
     constant = expr_constant(s->v.If.test);
-    /* constant = 0: "if 0"
+    /* constant = 0: "if 0" Leave the optimizations to
+     * the pephole optimizer to check for syntax errors
+     * in the block.
      * constant = 1: "if 1", "if 2", ...
      * constant = -1: rest */
-    if (constant == 0) {
-        if (s->v.If.orelse)
-            VISIT_SEQ(c, stmt, s->v.If.orelse);
-    } else if (constant == 1) {
+    if (constant == 1) {
         VISIT_SEQ(c, stmt, s->v.If.body);
     } else {
         if (asdl_seq_LEN(s->v.If.orelse)) {