diff --git a/docs/AllPOs.txt b/docs/AllPOs.txt
index 3d175d2..0e0fbf1 100644
--- a/docs/AllPOs.txt
+++ b/docs/AllPOs.txt
@@ -361,7 +361,7 @@ Examples:	.backgroundcolor = 0	; some local symbol
 			!zone LinkedList_End
 			; you know what to imagine here...
 		}
-		.backgroundcolor = 3	; => "Symbol already defined."
+		.backgroundcolor = 3	; -> "Symbol already defined."
 
 
 Call:		!symbollist FILENAME
@@ -388,11 +388,11 @@ Parameters:	CONDITION: Any formula the value parser accepts, but
 		it must be solvable even in the first pass.
 		BLOCK: A block of assembler statements.
 Examples:	; Choose word according to "country" symbol:
-		!if country = uk {
+		!if country == uk {
 			!text "Grey"
-		} else if country = fr {
+		} else if country == fr {
 			!text "Gris"
-		} else if country = de {
+		} else if country == de {
 			!text "Grau"
 		} else {
 			!text "Gray"
@@ -435,7 +435,7 @@ Examples:	; this was taken from <6502/std.a>:
 		; if the following code gets included several times,
 		; only assemble it at the first location:
 		!ifndef my_label {my_label} ; only define if undefined
-		!if * = my_label {
+		!if * == my_label {
 			; imagine some code here...
 			; this block will only be assembled at the
 			; first location where it is included. all
@@ -582,7 +582,7 @@ Parameters:	KEYWORD: Either "until" or "while" (without quotes).
 		BLOCK: A block of assembler statements.
 Examples:	; a loop with conditions at both start and end
 		!set a = 0			; init loop counter
-		!do while loop_flag = TRUE {
+		!do while loop_flag == TRUE {
 			lda #a
 			sta label + a
 			!set a = a + 1
@@ -595,10 +595,10 @@ Examples:	; a loop with conditions at both start and end
 		!do { !wo * + base } while * < base + 345
 
 		; a never ending loop - this will cause an error
-		!do while 3 < 4 { nop } until 3 = 4
+		!do while 3 < 4 { nop } until 3 == 4
 
 		; an empty loop - this will hang ACME
-		!do until 3 = 4 {     } while 3 < 4
+		!do until 3 == 4 {     } while 3 < 4
 
 
 Call:		!while [CONDITION] { BLOCK }
@@ -973,7 +973,7 @@ Parameters:	KEYWORD: Currently valid keywords are:
 				undocumented opcodes
 			See "docs/cputypes/all.txt" for more info.
 		BLOCK: A block of assembler statements.
-Examples:	!if cputype = $65c02 {
+Examples:	!if cputype == $65c02 {
 			!cpu 65c02 {	; temporarily allow 65c02 stuff
 				stz .todelete
 			}
diff --git a/docs/Errors.txt b/docs/Errors.txt
index f6f6260..0a6e0f7 100644
--- a/docs/Errors.txt
+++ b/docs/Errors.txt
@@ -61,9 +61,6 @@ Bug in ACME, code follows
     A situation has been encountered implying there is a bug in ACME.
     See the last section in this file.
 
-C-style "==" comparison detected.
-    To check for equality, use a single '=' character instead.
-
 Converted to integer for binary logic operator.
     Applying binary logic to float values does not make much sense,
     therefore floats will be converted to integer in such cases.
diff --git a/docs/Floats.txt b/docs/Floats.txt
index e235a28..e8d9015 100644
--- a/docs/Floats.txt
+++ b/docs/Floats.txt
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ the only way to enter this value is by writing "1.0 * 10.0 ^ 20.0".
 Examples:
 
 	!byte 1   / 2   * 2	; gives 0 (integer maths)
-	!byte 1   / 2   * 2.0	; gives 0 (1/2 => 0 in integer maths,
+	!byte 1   / 2   * 2.0	; gives 0 (1/2 -> 0 in integer maths,
 				;	float usage comes too late)
 	!byte 1   / 2.0 * 2	; gives 1 (FP in effect)
 	!byte 1   / 2.0 * 2.0	; gives 1 (FP in effect)
diff --git a/docs/Illegals.txt b/docs/Illegals.txt
index 9072f6d..c79c568 100644
--- a/docs/Illegals.txt
+++ b/docs/Illegals.txt
@@ -141,5 +141,5 @@ For more information about what these opcodes do, see these documents:
 
     "No More Secrets - NMOS 6510 Unintended Opcodes"
 
-Download it from    https://csdb.dk/release/?id=185341
+Download it from    https://csdb.dk/release/?id=198357
 or ask google for the latest version.
diff --git a/docs/QuickRef.txt b/docs/QuickRef.txt
index 4727255..dce9c86 100644
--- a/docs/QuickRef.txt
+++ b/docs/QuickRef.txt
@@ -423,7 +423,7 @@ Priority Example      Meaning                       Alias         Note
   6      v >=  w      higher or equal
   6      v  >  w      higher than
   5      v !=  w      not equal                     <>,  ><        *3
-  4      v  =  w      equal                                        *3
+  4      v ==  w      equal                         =              *3
   3      v  &  w      bit-wise AND                  AND
   2                   bit-wise exclusive OR         XOR
   1      v  |  w      bit-wise OR                   OR
diff --git a/examples/ddrv.a b/examples/ddrv.a
index 3e97676..9304ac3 100644
--- a/examples/ddrv.a
+++ b/examples/ddrv.a
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-;ACME 0.95
+;ACME 0.97
 ;!sl "ddrv.l"
 ; Name		DuoDriver
 ; Purpose	Input driver for mouse and joystick
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@
 ; Locations to store button states, $ff = pressed, $00 = not pressed.
 ; Mouse uses both buttons, joystick only uses "LeftButton".
 ; Location to store pointer's current character coordinates.
-!if SYSTEM = 64 {
+!if SYSTEM == 64 {
 	LeftButton	= $a4
 	RightButton	= $a5
 	CharX		= $b3
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@
 	tapebuf		= $0340
 	spr_ptrs	= 2040
 }
-!if SYSTEM = 128 {
+!if SYSTEM == 128 {
 	LeftButton	= $fa
 	RightButton	= $ff
 	CharX		= $9b
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ Init		lda sys_iirq
 		sta sys_iirq
 		stx sys_iirq + 1
 		plp
-!if SYSTEM = 128 {
+!if SYSTEM == 128 {
 		lda mmu_cr
 		tay
 		and #$fe	; activate I/O chips
@@ -170,10 +170,10 @@ Init		lda sys_iirq
 ; Init mouse buttons
 		lda #$11
 		sta cia1_prb
-!if SYSTEM = 128 {
+!if SYSTEM == 128 {
 		sty mmu_cr
 }
-!if SYSTEM = 64 {
+!if SYSTEM == 64 {
 ; Copy sprites to tape buffer
 		ldx #127
 -			lda Sprites, x
@@ -579,7 +579,7 @@ ResetMM		tay		; Set Y to zero.
 ; In the c128 version, we skip memory until we reach $0e00 - this is
 ; where the sprites are stored by default.
 
-!if SYSTEM = 128 {
+!if SYSTEM == 128 {
 	!align $ffff, $e00, $0
 }
 
diff --git a/src/alu.c b/src/alu.c
index 6363781..bf9a0f2 100644
--- a/src/alu.c
+++ b/src/alu.c
@@ -8,8 +8,7 @@
 // 31 Jul 2009	Changed ASR again, just to be on the safe side.
 // 14 Jan 2014	Changed associativity of "power-of" operator,
 //		so a^b^c now means a^(b^c).
-//  7 May 2014	C-style "==" operators are now recognized (but
-//		give a warning).
+//  7 May 2014	C-style "==" operators are now recognized.
 // 31 May 2014	Added "0b" binary number prefix as alternative to "%".
 // 28 Apr 2015	Added symbol name output to "value not defined" error.
 //  1 Feb 2019	Prepared to make "honor leading zeroes" optionally (now done)
@@ -1124,10 +1123,12 @@ static void expect_dyadic_operator(struct expression *expression)
 
 	case '=':	// is equal
 		op = &ops_equals;
-		// if it's "==", accept but warn
+		// atm, accept both "=" and "==". in future, prefer "=="!
 		if (GetByte() == '=') {
-			Throw_first_pass_warning("C-style \"==\" comparison detected.");
-			goto get_byte_and_push_dyadic;
+			//Throw_first_pass_warning("C-style \"==\" comparison detected.");	REMOVE!
+			GetByte();	// eat second '=' character
+		} else {
+			//Throw_first_pass_warning("old-style \"=\" comparison detected, please use \"==\" instead.");	ACTIVATE!
 		}
 		goto push_dyadic_op;
 
diff --git a/src/version.h b/src/version.h
index c3056cc..20052c3 100644
--- a/src/version.h
+++ b/src/version.h
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 
 #define RELEASE		"0.97"		// update before release	FIXME
 #define CODENAME	"Zem"		// update before release
-#define CHANGE_DATE	"28 Jan"	// update before release	FIXME
+#define CHANGE_DATE	"31 Jan"	// update before release	FIXME
 #define CHANGE_YEAR	"2021"		// update before release
 //#define HOME_PAGE	"http://home.pages.de/~mac_bacon/smorbrod/acme/"
 #define HOME_PAGE	"http://sourceforge.net/p/acme-crossass/"	// FIXME
diff --git a/testing/math1.a b/testing/math1.a
index 9dd5b41..1f5e2ae 100644
--- a/testing/math1.a
+++ b/testing/math1.a
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-;ACME 0.96.5
+;ACME 0.97
 	; "assert" macro
 	!macro a @r {
 		!if @r != 1 {
@@ -13,27 +13,27 @@
 	abcdef = $abcdef
 
 	; literals
-	+a 255 = $ff
-	+a 255 = 0xFF
-	+a 255 = %#1#1#1#1
-	+a 255 = 0b1111####
-	+a 255 = &377
-	+a 33 = '!'
+	+a 255 == $ff
+	+a 255 == 0xFF
+	+a 255 == %#1#1#1#1
+	+a 255 == 0b1111####
+	+a 255 == &377
+	+a 33 == '!'
 
 	; test monadic operators
-	+a NOT 1 = -2
-	+a -three = -3
-	+a <abcdef = $ef
-	+a >abcdef = $cd
-	+a ^abcdef = $ab
-	+a addr(abcdef) = abcdef
-	+a int(abcdef) = abcdef
-	+a float(three) = three
-	+a three = float(three)
+	+a NOT 1 == -2
+	+a -three == -3
+	+a <abcdef == $ef
+	+a >abcdef == $cd
+	+a ^abcdef == $ab
+	+a addr(abcdef) == abcdef
+	+a int(abcdef) == abcdef
+	+a float(three) == three
+	+a three == float(three)
 	+a float(fp) != int(fp)
 	+a int(fp) != float(fp)
-	+a float(three) = int(three)
-	+a int(three) = float(three)
+	+a float(three) == int(three)
+	+a int(three) == float(three)
 	+a sin(3.14) > 0
 	+a cos(0.1) > 0.9
 	+a tan(3.1415 / 2) > 1
@@ -42,20 +42,20 @@
 	+a arctan(1) > 0.78
 
 	; test dyadic operators
-	+a three^five = 3*3*3*3*3
-	+a three*five = 15
-	+a 15 / 2 = 7
-	+a 15.0 / 2 = 7.5
-	+a 15.0 DIV 2.0 = 7
-	+a 17 % 3 = 2
-	+a 3 << 3 = 24
-	+a -5 >> 2 = -2
-	+a 24 >> 3 = 3
-	+a -1 >> 3 = -1
-	+a 24 >>> 3 = 3
-	+a five + three = 8
-	+a five - three = 2
-	+a 2*3 = 1+5
+	+a three^five == 3*3*3*3*3
+	+a three*five == 15
+	+a 15 / 2 == 7
+	+a 15.0 / 2 == 7.5
+	+a 15.0 DIV 2.0 == 7
+	+a 17 % 3 == 2
+	+a 3 << 3 == 24
+	+a -5 >> 2 == -2
+	+a 24 >> 3 == 3
+	+a -1 >> 3 == -1
+	+a 24 >>> 3 == 3
+	+a five + three == 8
+	+a five - three == 2
+	+a 2*3 == 1+5
 	+a 2<=3
 	+a 2<=2
 	+a 2<3
@@ -63,152 +63,152 @@
 	+a 3>=2
 	+a 3>2
 	+a 2!=3
-	+a (abcdef & $a0c0e0) = $a0c0e0
-	+a (abcdef | $ff0001) = $ffcdef
-;	+a ($aa eor $55) = $ff
-	+a ($aa xor $55) = $ff
+	+a (abcdef & $a0c0e0) == $a0c0e0
+	+a (abcdef | $ff0001) == $ffcdef
+;	+a ($aa eor $55) == $ff
+	+a ($aa xor $55) == $ff
 
 	; priorities
-	+a 3 + 4 * 5 = 23
-	+a 4 * 5 + 3 = 23
+	+a 3 + 4 * 5 == 23
+	+a 4 * 5 + 3 == 23
 	+a 4.1 * 5.1 + 3.1 > 23.1
 
-	+a (15 or 3 xor 5) =   (15 or (3 xor 5))
+	+a (15 or 3 xor 5) ==  (15 or (3 xor 5))
 	+a (15 or 3 xor 5) != ((15 or 3) xor 5)
 
-	+a (15 xor 3 and 5) =   (15 xor (3 and 5))
+	+a (15 xor 3 and 5) ==  (15 xor (3 and 5))
 	+a (15 xor 3 and 5) != ((15 xor 3) and 5)
 
-	+a (5 and 3 = 3) =   (5 and (3 = 3))
-	+a (5 and 3 = 3) != ((5 and 3) = 3)
+	+a (5 and 3 == 3) ==  (5 and (3 == 3))
+	+a (5 and 3 == 3) != ((5 and 3) == 3)
 
-	+a (1 = 2 != 0) =   (1 = (2 != 0))
-	+a (1 = 2 != 0) != ((1 = 2) != 0)
+	+a (1 == 2 != 0) ==  (1 == (2 != 0))
+	+a (1 == 2 != 0) != ((1 == 2) != 0)
 
-	+a (0 != 3 < 2) =   (0 != (3 < 2))
+	+a (0 != 3 < 2) ==  (0 != (3 < 2))
 	+a (0 != 3 < 2) != ((0 != 3) < 2)
 
 	; < and > comparisons have the same priority, so this actually checks left-associativity:
-	+a (3 <= 3 > 0) = ((3 <= 3) > 0)
-	+a (3 <= 3 > 0) != (3 <= (3 > 0))
+	+a (3 <= 3 > 0) == ((3 <= 3) > 0)
+	+a (3 <= 3 > 0) !=  (3 <= (3 > 0))
 
-	+a (<257 > 1) = ((<257) > 1)
+	+a (<257 > 1) == ((<257) > 1)
 	+a (<257 > 1) != (<(257 > 1))
 
-	+a (<256 >> 4) =  (<(256 >> 4))
+	+a (<256 >> 4) == (<(256 >> 4))
 	+a (<256 >> 4) != ((<256) >> 4)
 
 	; shifts have the same priority, so this actually checks left-associativity:
-	+a (16 >>> 2 >> 1) = ((16 >>> 2) >> 1)
-	+a (16 >>> 2 >> 1) != (16 >>> (2 >> 1))
-	+a (16 >> 2 << 1) = ((16 >> 2) << 1)
-	+a (16 >> 2 << 1) != (16 >> (2 << 1))
-	+a (8 << 4 >>> 2) = ((8 << 4) >>> 2)
-	+a (8 << 4 >>> 2) != (8 << (4 >>> 2))
+	+a (16 >>> 2 >> 1) == ((16 >>> 2) >> 1)
+	+a (16 >>> 2 >> 1) !=  (16 >>> (2 >> 1))
+	+a (16 >> 2 << 1) == ((16 >> 2) << 1)
+	+a (16 >> 2 << 1) !=  (16 >> (2 << 1))
+	+a (8 << 4 >>> 2) == ((8 << 4) >>> 2)
+	+a (8 << 4 >>> 2) !=  (8 << (4 >>> 2))
 
-	+a (3 >> 1 + 5) =   (3 >> (1 + 5))
+	+a (3 >> 1 + 5) ==  (3 >> (1 + 5))
 	+a (3 >> 1 + 5) != ((3 >> 1) + 5)
 
 	; + and - have the same priority, so this actually checks left-associativity:
-	+a (3 - 5 + 7) = ((3 - 5) + 7)
-	+a (3 - 5 + 7) != (3 - (5 + 7))
+	+a (3 - 5 + 7) == ((3 - 5) + 7)
+	+a (3 - 5 + 7) !=  (3 - (5 + 7))
 
 	; test left-associativity
-	+a 11-5-3 =  3
+	+a 11-5-3 == 3
 	+a 11-5-3 != 9
 
-	+a (3 + 5 * 7) =   (3 + (5 * 7))
+	+a (3 + 5 * 7) ==  (3 + (5 * 7))
 	+a (3 + 5 * 7) != ((3 + 5) * 7)
 
 	; *, /, DIV and MOD have the same priority, so this actually checks left-associativity:
-	+a (7 * 5 MOD 7) = ((7 * 5) MOD 7)
-	+a (7 * 5 MOD 7) != (7 * (5 MOD 7))
+	+a (7 * 5 MOD 7) == ((7 * 5) MOD 7)
+	+a (7 * 5 MOD 7) !=  (7 * (5 MOD 7))
 
-	+a (-14 + 5) =  ((-14) + 5)
+	+a (-14 + 5) == ((-14) + 5)
 	+a (-14 + 5) != (-(14 + 5))
 
-	+a (-3^2) =  -(3^2)
+	+a (-3^2) == -(3^2)
 	+a (-3^2) != (-3)^2
 	; test right-associativity
-	+a 2^3^4 =   2^(3^4)
+	+a 2^3^4 ==  2^(3^4)
 	+a 2^3^4 != (2^3)^4
 
-	+a NOT 3 ^ 5 = ((NOT 3) ^ 5)
-	+a NOT 3 ^ 5 != (NOT (3 ^ 5))
+	+a NOT 3 ^ 5 == ((NOT 3) ^ 5)
+	+a NOT 3 ^ 5 !=  (NOT (3 ^ 5))
 
-	+a int(3 + 4) + .8 = (int(3 + 4) + .8)
+	+a int(3 + 4) + .8 == (int(3 + 4) + .8)
 	+a int(3 + 4) + .8 != int((3 + 4) + .8)
 
-	+a 3*(4+5)+7 = (3*(4+5))+7
+	+a 3*(4+5)+7 == (3*(4+5))+7
 	+a 3*(4+5)+7 != 3*((4+5)+7)
 
 	; test dyadics with different arg types
 	; int/int
-	+a 3 ^ 2 = 9
-	+a 3 * 2 = 6
-	+a 6 / 2 = 3
-	+a 5 DIV 2 = 2
-	+a 3 + 2 = 5
-	+a 6 - 4 = 2
+	+a 3 ^ 2 == 9
+	+a 3 * 2 == 6
+	+a 6 / 2 == 3
+	+a 5 DIV 2 == 2
+	+a 3 + 2 == 5
+	+a 6 - 4 == 2
 	+a 2 <= 3
 	+a 2 < 3
 	+a 3 >= 2
 	+a 3 > 2
 	+a 2 != 3
-	+a 2 = 2
-	+a 5 MOD 2 = 1
-	+a 5 >>> 1 = 2
-	+a (5 & 1) = 1
-	+a (5 | 2) = 7
-;	+a (5 EOR 2) = 7
-	+a (5 XOR 2) = 7
-	+a 5 << 2 = 20
-	+a 5 >> 2 = 1
+	+a 2 == 2
+	+a 5 MOD 2 == 1
+	+a 5 >>> 1 == 2
+	+a (5 & 1) == 1
+	+a (5 | 2) == 7
+;	+a (5 EOR 2) == 7
+	+a (5 XOR 2) == 7
+	+a 5 << 2 == 20
+	+a 5 >> 2 == 1
 	; int/float
-	+a 3 ^ 2.0 = 9
-	+a 3 * 2.0 = 6
-	+a 6 / 2.0 = 3
-	+a 5 DIV 2.0 = 2
-	+a 3 + 2.0 = 5
-	+a 6 - 4.0 = 2
+	+a 3 ^ 2.0 == 9
+	+a 3 * 2.0 == 6
+	+a 6 / 2.0 == 3
+	+a 5 DIV 2.0 == 2
+	+a 3 + 2.0 == 5
+	+a 6 - 4.0 == 2
 	+a 2 <= 3.0
 	+a 2 < 3.0
 	+a 3 >= 2.0
 	+a 3 > 2.0
 	+a 2 != 3.0
-	+a 2 = 2.0
-	+a 5 MOD 2.0 = 1
-	+a 5 << 2.0 = 20
-	+a 5 >> 2.0 = 1
+	+a 2 == 2.0
+	+a 5 MOD 2.0 == 1
+	+a 5 << 2.0 == 20
+	+a 5 >> 2.0 == 1
 	; float/int
-	+a 3.0 ^ 2 = 9
-	+a 3.0 * 2 = 6
-	+a 6.0 / 2 = 3
-	+a 5.0 DIV 2 = 2
-	+a 3.0 + 2 = 5
-	+a 6.0 - 4 = 2
+	+a 3.0 ^ 2 == 9
+	+a 3.0 * 2 == 6
+	+a 6.0 / 2 == 3
+	+a 5.0 DIV 2 == 2
+	+a 3.0 + 2 == 5
+	+a 6.0 - 4 == 2
 	+a 2.0 <= 3
 	+a 2.0 < 3
 	+a 3.0 >= 2
 	+a 3.0 > 2
 	+a 2.0 != 3
-	+a 2.0 = 2
-	+a 5.0 MOD 2 = 1
-	+a 5.0 << 2 = 20
-	+a 5.0 >> 2 = 1.25
+	+a 2.0 == 2
+	+a 5.0 MOD 2 == 1
+	+a 5.0 << 2 == 20
+	+a 5.0 >> 2 == 1.25
 	; float/float
-	+a 3.0 ^ 2.0 = 9
-	+a 3.0 * 2.0 = 6
-	+a 6.0 / 2.0 = 3
-	+a 5.0 DIV 2.0 = 2
-	+a 3.0 + 2.0 = 5
-	+a 6.0 - 4.0 = 2
+	+a 3.0 ^ 2.0 == 9
+	+a 3.0 * 2.0 == 6
+	+a 6.0 / 2.0 == 3
+	+a 5.0 DIV 2.0 == 2
+	+a 3.0 + 2.0 == 5
+	+a 6.0 - 4.0 == 2
 	+a 2.0 <= 3.0
 	+a 2.0 < 3.0
 	+a 3.0 >= 2.0
 	+a 3.0 > 2.0
 	+a 2.0 != 3.0
-	+a 2.0 = 2.0
-	+a 5.0 MOD 2.0 = 1
-	+a 5.0 << 2.0 = 20
-	+a 5.0 >> 2.0 = 1.25
+	+a 2.0 == 2.0
+	+a 5.0 MOD 2.0 == 1
+	+a 5.0 << 2.0 == 20
+	+a 5.0 >> 2.0 == 1.25