diff --git a/crates/redpiler/src/backend/direct/compile.rs b/crates/redpiler/src/backend/direct/compile.rs
index f689b504..3cf4f971 100644
--- a/crates/redpiler/src/backend/direct/compile.rs
+++ b/crates/redpiler/src/backend/direct/compile.rs
@@ -67,6 +67,10 @@ fn compile_node(
     stats.default_link_count += default_input_count;
     stats.side_link_count += side_input_count;
 
+    // Make sure signal strength buckets add up to 255 so we can easily check for all zeros in get_bool_input
+    default_inputs.ss_counts[0] += (MAX_INPUTS - default_input_count) as u8;
+    side_inputs.ss_counts[0] += (MAX_INPUTS - side_input_count) as u8;
+
     use crate::compile_graph::NodeType as CNodeType;
     let updates = if node.ty != CNodeType::Constant {
         graph
diff --git a/crates/redpiler/src/backend/direct/mod.rs b/crates/redpiler/src/backend/direct/mod.rs
index 5a090354..f1a4c36f 100644
--- a/crates/redpiler/src/backend/direct/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/redpiler/src/backend/direct/mod.rs
@@ -308,16 +308,14 @@ fn schedule_tick(
     scheduler.schedule_tick(node_id, delay, priority);
 }
 
-const BOOL_INPUT_MASK: u128 = u128::from_ne_bytes([
-    0, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255, 255,
-]);
-
 fn get_bool_input(node: &Node) -> bool {
-    u128::from_le_bytes(node.default_inputs.ss_counts) & BOOL_INPUT_MASK != 0
+    // During compilation its ensured all signal strength buckets add up to 255
+    // So if and only if the zero bucket contains 255 is the input zero
+    node.default_inputs.ss_counts[0] != 255
 }
 
 fn get_bool_side(node: &Node) -> bool {
-    u128::from_le_bytes(node.side_inputs.ss_counts) & BOOL_INPUT_MASK != 0
+    node.side_inputs.ss_counts[0] != 255
 }
 
 fn last_index_positive(array: &[u8; 16]) -> u32 {