diff --git a/src/braket/experimental/autoqasm/program/pragmas.py b/src/braket/experimental/autoqasm/program/pragmas.py
index 37b3ab79e..ee952f1c4 100644
--- a/src/braket/experimental/autoqasm/program/pragmas.py
+++ b/src/braket/experimental/autoqasm/program/pragmas.py
@@ -30,8 +30,17 @@ def pragma_example() -> None:
 
 
 import contextlib
+from enum import Enum
 
-from braket.experimental.autoqasm import program
+from braket.device_schema import DeviceActionType
+from braket.experimental.autoqasm import errors, program
+
+
+class PragmaType(str, Enum):
+    """Values used in pragma statements."""
+
+    VERBATIM = "braket verbatim"
+    """Denotes a box as a verbatim block."""
 
 
 @contextlib.contextmanager
@@ -43,7 +52,25 @@ def verbatim() -> None:
     programmed without compilation or modification of any sort.
 
     Raises:
-        errors.VerbatimBlockNotAllowed: If the target device does not support verbatim blocks.
+        errors.VerbatimBlockNotAllowed: If a verbatim block is not allowed at this point in
+            the program; for example, if the target device does not support verbatim blocks.
     """
-    with program.get_program_conversion_context().verbatim_block():
-        yield
+    program_conversion_context = program.get_program_conversion_context()
+
+    if program_conversion_context.in_verbatim_block:
+        raise errors.VerbatimBlockNotAllowed("Verbatim blocks cannot be nested.")
+
+    device = program_conversion_context.get_target_device()
+    if device:
+        supported_pragmas = device.properties.action[DeviceActionType.OPENQASM].supportedPragmas
+        if "verbatim" not in supported_pragmas:
+            raise errors.VerbatimBlockNotAllowed(
+                f'The target device "{device.name}" does not support verbatim blocks.'
+            )
+
+    try:
+        with program.get_program_conversion_context().box(pragma=PragmaType.VERBATIM):
+            program_conversion_context.in_verbatim_block = True
+            yield
+    finally:
+        program_conversion_context.in_verbatim_block = False
diff --git a/src/braket/experimental/autoqasm/program/program.py b/src/braket/experimental/autoqasm/program/program.py
index 839a971b2..68bf43b66 100644
--- a/src/braket/experimental/autoqasm/program/program.py
+++ b/src/braket/experimental/autoqasm/program/program.py
@@ -178,12 +178,12 @@ def __init__(self, user_config: Optional[UserConfig] = None):
         self.subroutines_processing = set()  # the set of subroutines queued for processing
         self.user_config = user_config or UserConfig()
         self.return_variable = None
+        self.in_verbatim_block = False
         self._oqpy_program_stack = [oqpy.Program()]
         self._gate_definitions_processing = []
         self._calibration_definitions_processing = []
         self._gates_defined = set()
         self._gates_used = set()
-        self._in_verbatim = False
         self._virtual_qubits_used = set()
         self._var_idx = 0
         self._has_pulse_control = False
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ def register_gate(self, gate_name: str) -> None:
             errors.UnsupportedNativeGate: If the gate is being used inside a verbatim block
                 and the gate is not a native gate of the target device.
         """
-        if not self._in_verbatim:
+        if not self.in_verbatim_block:
             self._gates_used.add(gate_name)
             return
 
@@ -320,7 +320,7 @@ def validate_gate_targets(self, qubits: List[Any], angles: List[Any]) -> None:
             errors.InvalidTargetQubit: Target qubits are invalid in the current context.
             errors.InvalidGateDefinition: Targets are invalid in the current gate definition.
         """
-        if self._in_verbatim and not self._gate_definitions_processing:
+        if self.in_verbatim_block and not self._gate_definitions_processing:
             self._validate_verbatim_target_qubits(qubits)
 
         if self._gate_definitions_processing:
@@ -476,34 +476,17 @@ def calibration_definition(
             self._calibration_definitions_processing.pop()
 
     @contextlib.contextmanager
-    def verbatim_block(self) -> None:
-        """Sets the program conversion context into a verbatim block context.
+    def box(self, pragma: Optional[str] = None) -> None:
+        """Sets the program conversion context into a box context.
 
-        Raises:
-            errors.VerbatimBlockNotAllowed: If a verbatim block is not allowed at this point in
-                the program; for example, if the target device does not support verbatim blocks.
+        Args:
+            pragma (Optional[str]): Pragma to include before the box. Defaults to None.
         """
-        if self._in_verbatim:
-            raise errors.VerbatimBlockNotAllowed("Verbatim blocks cannot be nested.")
-
-        device = self.get_target_device()
-        if (
-            device
-            and "verbatim"
-            not in device.properties.action[DeviceActionType.OPENQASM].supportedPragmas
-        ):
-            raise errors.VerbatimBlockNotAllowed(
-                f'The target device "{device.name}" does not support verbatim blocks.'
-            )
-
-        self._in_verbatim = True
-        try:
-            oqpy_program = self.get_oqpy_program()
-            oqpy_program.pragma("braket verbatim")
-            with oqpy.Box(oqpy_program):
-                yield
-        finally:
-            self._in_verbatim = False
+        oqpy_program = self.get_oqpy_program()
+        if pragma:
+            oqpy_program.pragma(pragma)
+        with oqpy.Box(oqpy_program):
+            yield
 
 
 @contextlib.contextmanager
diff --git a/test/unit_tests/braket/experimental/autoqasm/test_pragmas.py b/test/unit_tests/braket/experimental/autoqasm/test_pragmas.py
index 49d326ff3..583a5bd71 100644
--- a/test/unit_tests/braket/experimental/autoqasm/test_pragmas.py
+++ b/test/unit_tests/braket/experimental/autoqasm/test_pragmas.py
@@ -20,6 +20,20 @@
 from braket.experimental.autoqasm.instructions import cnot, h
 
 
+def test_basic_box() -> None:
+    """Tests the box statement without a pragma."""
+    with aq.build_program() as program_conversion_context:
+        with program_conversion_context.box():
+            pass
+
+    expected = """OPENQASM 3.0;
+box {
+}"""
+
+    program = program_conversion_context.make_program()
+    assert program.to_ir() == expected
+
+
 def test_with_verbatim_box() -> None:
     """Tests the with statement with verbatim box `Verbatim`."""