diff --git a/src/compiler/nir/nir.c b/src/compiler/nir/nir.c
index bf7a5fa0b7e..e09cb71bb35 100644
--- a/src/compiler/nir/nir.c
+++ b/src/compiler/nir/nir.c
@@ -1876,7 +1876,7 @@ nir_function_impl_lower_instructions(nir_function_impl *impl,
 
       b.cursor = nir_after_instr(instr);
       nir_ssa_def *new_def = lower(&b, instr, cb_data);
-      if (new_def) {
+      if (new_def && new_def != NIR_LOWER_INSTR_PROGRESS) {
          assert(old_def != NULL);
          if (new_def->parent_instr->block != instr->block)
             preserved = nir_metadata_none;
@@ -1901,6 +1901,9 @@ nir_function_impl_lower_instructions(nir_function_impl *impl,
             list_replace(&old_if_uses, &old_def->if_uses);
          }
          iter = nir_after_instr(instr);
+
+         if (new_def == NIR_LOWER_INSTR_PROGRESS)
+            progress = true;
       }
    }
 
diff --git a/src/compiler/nir/nir.h b/src/compiler/nir/nir.h
index 99fa4baa16a..c94da19668e 100644
--- a/src/compiler/nir/nir.h
+++ b/src/compiler/nir/nir.h
@@ -3299,6 +3299,13 @@ typedef bool (*nir_instr_filter_cb)(const nir_instr *, const void *);
 typedef nir_ssa_def *(*nir_lower_instr_cb)(struct nir_builder *,
                                            nir_instr *, void *);
 
+/**
+ * Special return value for nir_lower_instr_cb when some progress occurred
+ * (like changing an input to the instr) that didn't result in a replacement
+ * SSA def being generated.
+ */
+#define NIR_LOWER_INSTR_PROGRESS ((nir_ssa_def *)(uintptr_t)1)
+
 /** Iterate over all the instructions in a nir_function_impl and lower them
  *  using the provided callbacks
  *