diff --git a/compiler/src/prog8/ast/processing/AstChecker.kt b/compiler/src/prog8/ast/processing/AstChecker.kt
index 6f5ba59d3..890930420 100644
--- a/compiler/src/prog8/ast/processing/AstChecker.kt
+++ b/compiler/src/prog8/ast/processing/AstChecker.kt
@@ -1054,6 +1054,8 @@ internal class AstChecker(private val program: Program,
                 }
             }
         }
+
+        // TODO warn about unreachable code following a return statement???
     }
 
     private fun checkFunctionOrLabelExists(target: IdentifierReference, statement: Statement): Statement? {
diff --git a/compiler/src/prog8/optimizer/StatementOptimizer.kt b/compiler/src/prog8/optimizer/StatementOptimizer.kt
index f1ee57e9f..7e1138cad 100644
--- a/compiler/src/prog8/optimizer/StatementOptimizer.kt
+++ b/compiler/src/prog8/optimizer/StatementOptimizer.kt
@@ -588,6 +588,8 @@ internal class StatementOptimizer(private val program: Program) : IAstModifyingV
                 statements.removeAt(statements.lastIndex)
             }
         }
+
+        // TODO remove all statements following a 'return' statement ???
     }
 
 }
diff --git a/compiler/src/prog8/vm/astvm/AstVm.kt b/compiler/src/prog8/vm/astvm/AstVm.kt
index 350f359b8..402cbec66 100644
--- a/compiler/src/prog8/vm/astvm/AstVm.kt
+++ b/compiler/src/prog8/vm/astvm/AstVm.kt
@@ -996,6 +996,11 @@ class AstVm(val program: Program, compilationTarget: String) {
                     else -> RuntimeValueNumeric(DataType.BYTE, 1)
                 }
             }
+            "exit" -> {
+                val rv = args.single().numericValue()
+                dialog.canvas.printAsciiText("\n<program ended with exit($rv)>")
+                throw VmTerminationException("program ended with exit($rv)")
+            }
             else -> TODO("astvm implement builtin function $name")
         }
     }
diff --git a/examples/test.p8 b/examples/test.p8
index d18dbf90a..cbeb9747b 100644
--- a/examples/test.p8
+++ b/examples/test.p8
@@ -20,9 +20,9 @@ main {
     sub sub2() {
         c64scr.print("sp2:")
         print_stackpointer()
-        exit(65)
-        sub3()
-        sub3()
+        return
+        sub3()      ; TODO warning about unreachable code
+        sub3()      ; TODO remove statements after a return
         sub3()
         sub3()
         sub3()
@@ -40,9 +40,6 @@ main {
     }
 
     sub print_stackpointer() {
-        %asm {{
-            tsx
-        }}
         c64scr.print_ub(X)      ; prints stack pointer
         c64.CHROUT('\n')
     }