diff --git a/pymtl3/datatypes/PythonBits.py b/pymtl3/datatypes/PythonBits.py
index 33bd47f23..f07ec1bb8 100644
--- a/pymtl3/datatypes/PythonBits.py
+++ b/pymtl3/datatypes/PythonBits.py
@@ -529,3 +529,7 @@ def oct( self ):
   def hex( self ):
     str = "{:x}".format(int(self._uint)).zfill(((self._nbits-1)//4)+1)
     return "0x"+str
+
+  def bin_vcd(self):
+    str = "{:b}".format(int(self._uint)).zfill(self._nbits)
+    return str
diff --git a/pymtl3/datatypes/test/bits_test.py b/pymtl3/datatypes/test/bits_test.py
index 242e560ed..4865ee0a2 100644
--- a/pymtl3/datatypes/test/bits_test.py
+++ b/pymtl3/datatypes/test/bits_test.py
@@ -760,3 +760,4 @@ def test_bin_oct_hex():
   assert Bits(15,35).bin() == "0b000000000100011"
   assert Bits(15,35).oct() == "0o00043"
   assert Bits(15,35).hex() == "0x0023"
+  assert Bits(15,35).vcd_bin() == "000000000100011"
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/pymtl3/passes/tracing/VcdGenerationPass.py b/pymtl3/passes/tracing/VcdGenerationPass.py
index 557fc26a6..6a263a4d9 100644
--- a/pymtl3/passes/tracing/VcdGenerationPass.py
+++ b/pymtl3/passes/tracing/VcdGenerationPass.py
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ def recurse_models( m, spaces ):
     for i, net in enumerate(trimmed_value_nets):
       # Convert everything to Bits to get around lack of bit struct support.
       # The first cycle VCD contains the default value
-      bin_str = net[0]._dsl.Type().to_bits().bin()
+      bin_str = net[0]._dsl.Type().to_bits().vcd_bin()
 
       print( f"b{bin_str} {net_symbol_mapping[i]}", file=vcd_file )
 
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ def recurse_models( m, spaces ):
                       if i != vcd_clock_net_idx ]
 
     # Flip clock for the first cycle
-    print( '\n#0\nb0b1 {}\n'.format( clock_symbol ), file=vcd_file, flush=True )
+    print( '\n#0\n1{}\n'.format( clock_symbol ), file=vcd_file, flush=True )
 
     # Returns a dump_vcd function that is ready to be appended to _sched.
     # TODO: type check?
@@ -243,9 +243,9 @@ def dump_vcd_inner( s ):
         except Exception as e:
           raise TypeError(f'{e}\n - {signal} becomes another type. Please check your code.')
 
-        net_bits_bin_str = net_bits_bin.bin()
+        net_bits_bin_str = net_bits_bin.vcd_bin()
         # `last_value` is the string form of a Bits object in binary
-        # e.g. '0b000' == Bits3(0).bin()
+        # e.g. '000' == Bits3(0).vcd_bin()
         # We store strings instead of values ...
         if last_values[i] != net_bits_bin_str:
           last_values[i] = net_bits_bin_str
@@ -253,11 +253,11 @@ def dump_vcd_inner( s ):
 
       # Flop clock at the end of cycle
       next_neg_edge = 100 * vcd_sim_ncycles + 50
-      print( f'\n#{next_neg_edge}\nb0b0 {clock_symbol}', file=vcd_file )
+      print( f'\n#{next_neg_edge}\n0{clock_symbol}', file=vcd_file )
 
       # Flip clock of the next cycle
       next_pos_edge = next_neg_edge + 50
-      print( f'#{next_pos_edge}\nb0b1 {clock_symbol}\n', file=vcd_file, flush=True )
+      print( f'#{next_pos_edge}\n1{clock_symbol}\n', file=vcd_file, flush=True )
       vcd_sim_ncycles += 1
 
     def gen_dump_vcd( s ):