diff --git a/src/core/observer.ts b/src/core/observer.ts
index df642ad7..4f9b955b 100644
--- a/src/core/observer.ts
+++ b/src/core/observer.ts
@@ -25,7 +25,12 @@ export class Observer {
   notifyCB() {}
 
   observe<T>(value: T, parent?: any): T {
-    if (value === null || typeof value !== "object" || value instanceof Date) {
+    if (
+      value === null ||
+      typeof value !== "object" ||
+      value instanceof Date ||
+      value instanceof Promise
+    ) {
       // fun fact: typeof null === 'object'
       return value;
     }
diff --git a/src/qweb/qweb.ts b/src/qweb/qweb.ts
index 7787673d..8cc81eb1 100644
--- a/src/qweb/qweb.ts
+++ b/src/qweb/qweb.ts
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ interface Utils {
   [key: string]: any;
 }
 
-function isComponent(obj) {
+function isComponent(obj): boolean {
   return obj && obj.hasOwnProperty("__owl__");
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/core/observer.test.ts b/tests/core/observer.test.ts
index f416deec..25a5ac81 100644
--- a/tests/core/observer.test.ts
+++ b/tests/core/observer.test.ts
@@ -68,6 +68,23 @@ describe("observer", () => {
     expect(obj.date).not.toBe(date);
   });
 
+  test("properly handle promises (i.e.: treat them like primitive values", async () => {
+    const observer = new Observer();
+    let resolved = false;
+    const prom = new Promise((r) => r());
+    const obj: any = observer.observe({ prom });
+    expect(obj.prom).toBeInstanceOf(Promise);
+
+    obj.prom.then(() => (resolved = true));
+
+    expect(observer.revNumber(obj)).toBe(1);
+
+    expect(resolved).toBe(false);
+    await Promise.resolve();
+    expect(resolved).toBe(true);
+    expect(observer.revNumber(obj)).toBe(1);
+  });
+
   test("can change values in array", () => {
     const observer = new Observer();
     const obj: any = observer.observe({ arr: [1, 2] });