diff --git a/src/uu/expr/src/syntax_tree.rs b/src/uu/expr/src/syntax_tree.rs
index 335405d06..ad421edb7 100644
--- a/src/uu/expr/src/syntax_tree.rs
+++ b/src/uu/expr/src/syntax_tree.rs
@@ -155,8 +155,24 @@ impl AstNode {
         }
     }
     pub fn operand_values(&self) -> Result<Vec<String>, String> {
-        if let Self::Node { operands, .. } = self {
+        if let Self::Node {
+            operands, op_type, ..
+        } = self
+        {
             let mut out = Vec::with_capacity(operands.len());
+            let mut operands = operands.iter();
+
+            if op_type == "|" {
+                if let Some(value) = operands.next() {
+                    let value = value.evaluate()?;
+                    out.push(value.clone());
+                    if value_as_bool(&value) {
+                        out.push(String::from("dummy"));
+                        return Ok(out);
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+
             for operand in operands {
                 let value = operand.evaluate()?;
                 out.push(value);