diff --git a/rules/ast/functions.go b/rules/ast/functions.go
index da3a9c765..2f541d7df 100644
--- a/rules/ast/functions.go
+++ b/rules/ast/functions.go
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ package ast
 import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"math"
 	"sort"
 	"time"
 
@@ -255,6 +256,15 @@ func sampleVectorImpl(timestamp time.Time, view *viewAdapter, args []Node) inter
 	}
 }
 
+// === scalar(node *VectorNode) Scalar ===
+func scalarImpl(timestamp time.Time, view *viewAdapter, args []Node) interface{} {
+	v := args[0].(VectorNode).Eval(timestamp, view)
+	if len(v) != 1 {
+		return clientmodel.SampleValue(math.NaN())
+	}
+	return clientmodel.SampleValue(v[0].Value)
+}
+
 var functions = map[string]*Function{
 	"delta": {
 		name:       "delta",
@@ -274,6 +284,12 @@ var functions = map[string]*Function{
 		returnType: VECTOR,
 		callFn:     sampleVectorImpl,
 	},
+	"scalar": {
+		name:       "scalar",
+		argTypes:   []ExprType{VECTOR},
+		returnType: SCALAR,
+		callFn:     scalarImpl,
+	},
 	"sort": {
 		name:       "sort",
 		argTypes:   []ExprType{VECTOR},