diff --git a/include/ck/utility/mxfp_utils.hpp b/include/ck/utility/mxfp_utils.hpp
index cf7a3e8713..ebed85f5fd 100644
--- a/include/ck/utility/mxfp_utils.hpp
+++ b/include/ck/utility/mxfp_utils.hpp
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ __host__ __device__ inline T convert_to_type(float value)
     {
         // closer to 0
         if(std::abs(value) <= std::abs(min_subnorm - value))
-            return 0;
+            return sign << (NumericUtils<T>::exp + NumericUtils<T>::mant);
         else
             return 1 | (sign << (NumericUtils<T>::exp + NumericUtils<T>::mant));
     }
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ __host__ __device__ inline T convert_to_type(float value)
 
     if(out_exponent == 0 && mantissa == 0)
     {
-        return 0;
+        return sign << (NumericUtils<T>::exp + NumericUtils<T>::mant);
     }
 
     mantissa &= (1UL << NumericUtils<T>::mant) - 1;