diff --git a/scripts/qapi.py b/scripts/qapi.py
index 6a339d60b5..1dd91eed42 100644
--- a/scripts/qapi.py
+++ b/scripts/qapi.py
@@ -158,6 +158,20 @@ def accept(self):
                         return
                     else:
                         string += ch
+            elif self.tok in "tfn":
+                val = self.src[self.cursor - 1:]
+                if val.startswith("true"):
+                    self.val = True
+                    self.cursor += 3
+                    return
+                elif val.startswith("false"):
+                    self.val = False
+                    self.cursor += 4
+                    return
+                elif val.startswith("null"):
+                    self.val = None
+                    self.cursor += 3
+                    return
             elif self.tok == '\n':
                 if self.cursor == len(self.src):
                     self.tok = None
@@ -197,8 +211,9 @@ def get_values(self):
         if self.tok == ']':
             self.accept()
             return expr
-        if not self.tok in [ '{', '[', "'" ]:
-            raise QAPISchemaError(self, 'Expected "{", "[", "]" or string')
+        if not self.tok in "{['tfn":
+            raise QAPISchemaError(self, 'Expected "{", "[", "]", string, '
+                                  'boolean or "null"')
         while True:
             expr.append(self.get_expr(True))
             if self.tok == ']':
@@ -217,7 +232,7 @@ def get_expr(self, nested):
         elif self.tok == '[':
             self.accept()
             expr = self.get_values()
-        elif self.tok == "'":
+        elif self.tok in "'tfn":
             expr = self.val
             self.accept()
         else:
diff --git a/tests/qapi-schema/bad-type-bool.err b/tests/qapi-schema/bad-type-bool.err
index badb7c2847..de6168c82d 100644
--- a/tests/qapi-schema/bad-type-bool.err
+++ b/tests/qapi-schema/bad-type-bool.err
@@ -1 +1 @@
-tests/qapi-schema/bad-type-bool.json:3:11: Stray "t"
+tests/qapi-schema/bad-type-bool.json:2: 'type' key must have a string value
diff --git a/tests/qapi-schema/bad-type-bool.json b/tests/qapi-schema/bad-type-bool.json
index 22d6369ef8..e1e9fb0dde 100644
--- a/tests/qapi-schema/bad-type-bool.json
+++ b/tests/qapi-schema/bad-type-bool.json
@@ -1,3 +1,2 @@
 # we reject an expression with a metatype that is not a string
-# FIXME: once the parser understands bool inputs, improve the error message
 { 'type': true, 'data': { } }