diff --git a/vlib/v/gen/c/if.v b/vlib/v/gen/c/if.v
index 9ae3015754..09369c71ce 100644
--- a/vlib/v/gen/c/if.v
+++ b/vlib/v/gen/c/if.v
@@ -200,7 +200,11 @@ fn (mut g Gen) if_expr(node ast.IfExpr) {
 			}
 		}
 		if needs_tmp_var {
+			if node.is_expr && g.table.sym(node.typ).kind == .sum_type {
+				g.expected_cast_type = node.typ
+			}
 			g.stmts_with_tmp_var(branch.stmts, tmp)
+			g.expected_cast_type = 0
 		} else {
 			// restore if_expr stmt header pos
 			stmt_pos := g.nth_stmt_pos(0)
diff --git a/vlib/v/tests/if_expr_with_sumtype_test.v b/vlib/v/tests/if_expr_with_sumtype_test.v
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..81bc07c7ea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vlib/v/tests/if_expr_with_sumtype_test.v
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+struct A_str {}
+
+struct B_str {}
+
+type Token = A_str | B_str
+
+fn next(mut v []Token) Token {
+	return if v.len > 0 { v.pop() } else { A_str{} }
+}
+
+fn test_if_expr_with_sumtype() {
+	mut arr := []Token{}
+	ret1 := next(mut arr)
+	println(ret1)
+	assert '$ret1' == 'Token(A_str{})'
+
+	arr << A_str{}
+	arr << B_str{}
+
+	ret2 := next(mut arr)
+	println(ret2)
+	assert '$ret2' == 'Token(B_str{})'
+}