diff --git a/core/translate/expr.rs b/core/translate/expr.rs
index 359bb8cf7..ce797c75a 100644
--- a/core/translate/expr.rs
+++ b/core/translate/expr.rs
@@ -191,15 +191,6 @@ fn translate_in_list(
     dest_if_null: BranchOffset,
     resolver: &Resolver,
 ) -> Result<()> {
-    // Disclamer: SQLite does this opt during parsing (https://github.com/sqlite/sqlite/blob/833fb1ef59b1c62fb2b00c7a121a5b5171f8a85e/src/parse.y#L1425)
-    // But we're the cool kids so we gotta do during translation :)
-    if rhs.is_empty() {
-        program.emit_insn(Insn::Goto {
-            target_pc: dest_if_false,
-        });
-        return Ok(());
-    }
-
     let lhs_reg = expr_code_vector(program, lhs);
     let _ = translate_expr(program, referenced_tables, lhs, lhs_reg, resolver)?;
     let mut check_null_reg = 0;
diff --git a/parser/src/parser.rs b/parser/src/parser.rs
index b4188df44..b134f9f95 100644
--- a/parser/src/parser.rs
+++ b/parser/src/parser.rs
@@ -1723,11 +1723,23 @@ impl<'a> Parser<'a> {
                                 _ => {
                                     let exprs = self.parse_expr_list()?;
                                     eat_expect!(self, TK_RP);
-                                    Box::new(Expr::InList {
-                                        lhs: result,
-                                        not,
-                                        rhs: exprs,
-                                    })
+                                    // Expressions in the form:
+                                    // lhs IN ()
+                                    // lhs NOT IN ()
+                                    // can be simplified to constants 0 (false) and 1 (true), respectively.
+                                    //
+                                    // todo: should check if lhs has a function. If so, this optimization cannot
+                                    // be done.
+                                    if exprs.is_empty() {
+                                        let name = if not { "1" } else { "0" };
+                                        Box::new(Expr::Literal(Literal::Numeric(name.into())))
+                                    } else {
+                                        Box::new(Expr::InList {
+                                            lhs: result,
+                                            not,
+                                            rhs: exprs,
+                                        })
+                                    }
                                 }
                             }
                         }