diff --git a/sol/object.hpp b/sol/object.hpp
index 9aee1b52..0889a37f 100644
--- a/sol/object.hpp
+++ b/sol/object.hpp
@@ -45,6 +45,10 @@ public:
         auto actual = lua_type(state(), -1);
         return (static_cast<int>(expected) == actual) || (expected == type::poly);
     }
+
+    explicit operator bool() const {
+        return is<nil_t>();
+    }
 };
 
 inline bool operator==(const object& lhs, const nil_t&) {