diff --git a/openpilot/compile.py b/openpilot/compile.py
index 1e4557a8c9..dfb13a856d 100644
--- a/openpilot/compile.py
+++ b/openpilot/compile.py
@@ -163,7 +163,8 @@ def compile(input, output_fn):
   tinygrad_out_np = tinygrad_out.numpy()
 
   # float32 only
-  if int(os.getenv("FLOAT16", 0)) == 0:
+  FLOAT16 = int(os.getenv("FLOAT16", 0))
+  if FLOAT16 == 0:
     torch_out = run_onnx_torch(onnx_model, np_inputs).numpy()
     print(tinygrad_out_np, torch_out)
     np.testing.assert_allclose(torch_out, tinygrad_out_np, atol=1e-4, rtol=1e-2)
@@ -227,14 +228,14 @@ def compile(input, output_fn):
               "id": ptr, "arg_type": "float*", "needs_load": needs_load, "size": a.size,
             })
             if needs_load:
-              data = np.empty(a.size, dtype=np.uint8)
+              data = np.empty(a.size//4, dtype=np.float32)
               CL.enqueue_copy(data, a, is_blocking=True)
               weights.append(data.tobytes())
           elif isinstance(a, cl.Image):
             needs_load = a in kernels_to_save
-            row_pitch = (a.shape[0]*4*2 + 63)//64 * 64
+            row_pitch = (a.shape[0]*4*(2 if FLOAT16 else 4) + 63)//64 * 64
             size = row_pitch * a.shape[1]
-            buf = CLBuffer(size)
+            buf = CLBuffer(size * (1 if FLOAT16 else 2))
 
             # zero out the buffer
             zeros = np.zeros(size, dtype=np.uint8)
@@ -248,7 +249,7 @@ def compile(input, output_fn):
                 l.x = get_global_id(0);
                 out[l.y*row_pitch + l.x] = read_imagef(in, smp, l);
               }
-            """, argdtypes=(None, None, np.int32))(a.shape, None, a, buf.cl, row_pitch)
+            """, argdtypes=(None, None, np.int32))(a.shape, None, a, buf.cl, row_pitch//(4*(2 if FLOAT16 else 4)))
 
             # multiple of 32 isn't enough
             jdat['objects'].append({
@@ -257,8 +258,9 @@ def compile(input, output_fn):
             })
 
             if needs_load:
-              data = np.empty(size, dtype=np.uint8)
+              data = np.empty(size//2, dtype=np.float32)
               CL.enqueue_copy(data, buf.cl, is_blocking=True)
+              if FLOAT16: data = data.astype(np.float16)
               weights.append(data.tobytes())
           else:
             raise Exception("unknown object", a)