diff --git a/phiml/math/_sparse.py b/phiml/math/_sparse.py
index 31e3cbe..b1149f0 100644
--- a/phiml/math/_sparse.py
+++ b/phiml/math/_sparse.py
@@ -111,7 +111,10 @@ def tensor_like(existing_tensor: Tensor, values: Union[Tensor, Number, bool], va
             values = where(existing_tensor._valid_mask(), values, 0)
         return existing_tensor._with_values(values)
     if not is_sparse(existing_tensor):
-        return unpack_dim(values, instance, existing_tensor.shape.non_channel.non_batch)
+        if instance(values):
+            return unpack_dim(values, instance, existing_tensor.shape.non_batch)
+        else:
+            return expand(values, existing_tensor.shape.non_batch)
     raise NotImplementedError