diff --git a/loopy/codegen/__init__.py b/loopy/codegen/__init__.py
index 20132276edece9822ecf1fc2d94dedc4691b4b7f..fd39956c1a6fd0666b20ffee3c672da6190f3a03 100644
--- a/loopy/codegen/__init__.py
+++ b/loopy/codegen/__init__.py
@@ -187,7 +187,8 @@ class POD(PODBase):
 
 # {{{ main code generation entrypoint
 
-def generate_code(kernel, with_annotation=False):
+def generate_code(kernel, with_annotation=False,
+        allow_complex=False):
     from cgen import (FunctionBody, FunctionDeclaration,
             Value, ArrayOf, Module, Block,
             Line, Const, LiteralLines, Initializer)
@@ -196,8 +197,9 @@ def generate_code(kernel, with_annotation=False):
             CLLocal, CLImage, CLConstant)
 
     from loopy.codegen.expression import LoopyCCodeMapper
-    ccm = (LoopyCCodeMapper(kernel, with_annotation=with_annotation)
-            .copy_and_assign_many(make_initial_assignments(kernel)))
+    ccm = (LoopyCCodeMapper(kernel, with_annotation=with_annotation,
+        allow_complex=allow_complex)
+        .copy_and_assign_many(make_initial_assignments(kernel)))
 
     mod = Module()
 
diff --git a/loopy/codegen/expression.py b/loopy/codegen/expression.py
index fc9e8a3b7ab3c3423d682e85602910c6e077623f..b871721d2730abc787ff6c631cf97da1c52563b0 100644
--- a/loopy/codegen/expression.py
+++ b/loopy/codegen/expression.py
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ class TypeInferenceMapper(CombineMapper):
 
 class LoopyCCodeMapper(CCodeMapper):
     def __init__(self, kernel, cse_name_list=[], var_subst_map={},
-            with_annotation=False, ):
+            with_annotation=False, allow_complex=False):
         def constant_mapper(c):
             if isinstance(c, float):
                 # FIXME: type-variable
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@ class LoopyCCodeMapper(CCodeMapper):
                 cse_name_list=cse_name_list)
         self.kernel = kernel
         self.infer_type = TypeInferenceMapper(kernel)
+        self.allow_complex = allow_complex
 
         self.with_annotation = with_annotation
         self.var_subst_map = var_subst_map.copy()
@@ -85,7 +86,8 @@ class LoopyCCodeMapper(CCodeMapper):
             cse_name_list = self.cse_name_list
         return LoopyCCodeMapper(self.kernel,
                 cse_name_list=cse_name_list, var_subst_map=var_subst_map,
-                with_annotation=self.with_annotation)
+                with_annotation=self.with_annotation,
+                allow_complex=self.allow_complex)
 
     def copy_and_assign(self, name, value):
         """Make a copy of self with variable *name* fixed to *value*."""
@@ -214,6 +216,9 @@ class LoopyCCodeMapper(CCodeMapper):
             raise RuntimeError
 
     def map_sum(self, expr, enclosing_prec):
+        if not self.allow_complex:
+            return CCodeMapper.map_sum(self, expr, enclosing_prec)
+
         tgt_dtype = self.infer_type(expr)
         is_complex = tgt_dtype.kind == 'c'
 
@@ -239,6 +244,9 @@ class LoopyCCodeMapper(CCodeMapper):
             return self.parenthesize_if_needed(result, enclosing_prec, PREC_SUM)
 
     def map_product(self, expr, enclosing_prec):
+        if not self.allow_complex:
+            return CCodeMapper.map_product(self, expr, enclosing_prec)
+
         tgt_dtype = self.infer_type(expr)
         is_complex = 'c' == tgt_dtype.kind
 
@@ -270,6 +278,9 @@ class LoopyCCodeMapper(CCodeMapper):
             return self.parenthesize_if_needed(result, enclosing_prec, PREC_PRODUCT)
 
     def map_quotient(self, expr, enclosing_prec):
+        if not self.allow_complex:
+            return CCodeMapper.map_quotient(self, expr, enclosing_prec)
+
         n_complex = 'c' == self.infer_type(expr.numerator).kind
         d_complex = 'c' == self.infer_type(expr.denominator).kind
 
@@ -292,6 +303,9 @@ class LoopyCCodeMapper(CCodeMapper):
                     self.rec(expr.denominator, PREC_NONE))
 
     def map_remainder(self, expr, enclosing_prec):
+        if not self.allow_complex:
+            return CCodeMapper.map_remainder(self, expr, enclosing_prec)
+
         tgt_dtype = self.infer_type(expr)
         if 'c' == tgt_dtype.kind:
             raise RuntimeError("complex remainder not defined")
@@ -299,6 +313,9 @@ class LoopyCCodeMapper(CCodeMapper):
         return CCodeMapper.map_remainder(self, expr, enclosing_prec)
 
     def map_power(self, expr, enclosing_prec):
+        if not self.allow_complex:
+            return CCodeMapper.map_power(self, expr, enclosing_prec)
+
         from pymbolic.mapper.stringifier import PREC_NONE
 
         tgt_dtype = self.infer_type(expr)