1. A method comprising: (a) specifying a value in a first portion of a conditional pre-fetch instruction, the conditional pre-fetch instruction being associated with a branch instruction used for effectuating a branch operation in a processor, the value corresponding to a condition of the branch instruction; (b) specifying a target instruction address in a second portion in the conditional pre-fetch instruction; (c) evaluating the value to determine whether a condition is met; and (d) pre-fetching one or more instructions starting at the target instruction address into an instruction buffer of the processor when the condition is met.