diff --git a/lib/syntax_tree/yarv/compiler.rb b/lib/syntax_tree/yarv/compiler.rb
index bd20bc19..b0afcc99 100644
--- a/lib/syntax_tree/yarv/compiler.rb
+++ b/lib/syntax_tree/yarv/compiler.rb
@@ -875,8 +875,7 @@ def visit_defined(node)
           when Ident
             iseq.putobject("local-variable")
           when IVar
-            iseq.putnil
-            iseq.defined(Defined::TYPE_IVAR, name, "instance-variable")
+            iseq.defined_ivar(name, iseq.inline_storage, "instance-variable")
           when Kw
             case name
             when :false
diff --git a/lib/syntax_tree/yarv/instruction_sequence.rb b/lib/syntax_tree/yarv/instruction_sequence.rb
index 5aaaef44..2d89e052 100644
--- a/lib/syntax_tree/yarv/instruction_sequence.rb
+++ b/lib/syntax_tree/yarv/instruction_sequence.rb
@@ -673,12 +673,21 @@ def concatstrings(number)
         push(ConcatStrings.new(number))
       end
 
+      def defineclass(name, class_iseq, flags)
+        push(DefineClass.new(name, class_iseq, flags))
+      end
+
       def defined(type, name, message)
         push(Defined.new(type, name, message))
       end
 
-      def defineclass(name, class_iseq, flags)
-        push(DefineClass.new(name, class_iseq, flags))
+      def defined_ivar(name, cache, message)
+        if RUBY_VERSION < "3.3"
+          push(PutNil.new)
+          push(Defined.new(Defined::TYPE_IVAR, name, message))
+        else
+          push(DefinedIVar.new(name, cache, message))
+        end
       end
 
       def definemethod(name, method_iseq)
@@ -1058,6 +1067,8 @@ def self.from(source, options = Compiler::Options.new, parent_iseq = nil)
             iseq.defineclass(opnds[0], from(opnds[1], options, iseq), opnds[2])
           when :defined
             iseq.defined(opnds[0], opnds[1], opnds[2])
+          when :defined_ivar
+            iseq.defined_ivar(opnds[0], opnds[1], opnds[2])
           when :definemethod
             iseq.definemethod(opnds[0], from(opnds[1], options, iseq))
           when :definesmethod
diff --git a/lib/syntax_tree/yarv/instructions.rb b/lib/syntax_tree/yarv/instructions.rb
index 38c80fde..cf83ddeb 100644
--- a/lib/syntax_tree/yarv/instructions.rb
+++ b/lib/syntax_tree/yarv/instructions.rb
@@ -994,6 +994,64 @@ def call(vm)
       end
     end
 
+    # ### Summary
+    #
+    # `defined_ivar` checks if an instance variable is defined. It is a
+    # specialization of the `defined` instruction. It accepts three arguments:
+    # the name of the instance variable, an inline cache, and the string that
+    # should be pushed onto the stack in the event that the instance variable
+    # is defined.
+    #
+    # ### Usage
+    #
+    # ~~~ruby
+    # defined?(@value)
+    # ~~~
+    #
+    class DefinedIVar < Instruction
+      attr_reader :name, :cache, :message
+
+      def initialize(name, cache, message)
+        @name = name
+        @cache = cache
+        @message = message
+      end
+
+      def disasm(fmt)
+        fmt.instruction(
+          "defined_ivar",
+          [fmt.object(name), fmt.inline_storage(cache), fmt.object(message)]
+        )
+      end
+
+      def to_a(_iseq)
+        [:defined_ivar, name, cache, message]
+      end
+
+      def deconstruct_keys(_keys)
+        { name: name, cache: cache, message: message }
+      end
+
+      def ==(other)
+        other.is_a?(DefinedIVar) && other.name == name &&
+          other.cache == cache && other.message == message
+      end
+
+      def length
+        4
+      end
+
+      def pushes
+        1
+      end
+
+      def call(vm)
+        result = (message if vm.frame._self.instance_variable_defined?(name))
+
+        vm.push(result)
+      end
+    end
+
     # ### Summary
     #
     # `definemethod` defines a method on the class of the current value of