diff --git a/compiler/src/prog8/ast/antlr/Antr2Kotlin.kt b/compiler/src/prog8/ast/antlr/Antr2Kotlin.kt
index cc9065283..5ee45174f 100644
--- a/compiler/src/prog8/ast/antlr/Antr2Kotlin.kt
+++ b/compiler/src/prog8/ast/antlr/Antr2Kotlin.kt
@@ -571,7 +571,7 @@ private fun prog8Parser.When_choiceContext.toAst(): WhenChoice {
 
 private fun prog8Parser.VardeclContext.toAst(): VarDecl {
     return VarDecl(
-            if(structname!=null) VarDeclType.STRUCT else VarDeclType.VAR,
+            VarDeclType.VAR,
             datatype()?.toAst() ?: DataType.STRUCT,
             ZEROPAGE() != null,
             arrayindex()?.toAst(),
diff --git a/compiler/src/prog8/ast/base/Base.kt b/compiler/src/prog8/ast/base/Base.kt
index 27f08bea8..62238f702 100644
--- a/compiler/src/prog8/ast/base/Base.kt
+++ b/compiler/src/prog8/ast/base/Base.kt
@@ -94,8 +94,7 @@ enum class BranchCondition {
 enum class VarDeclType {
     VAR,
     CONST,
-    MEMORY,
-    STRUCT
+    MEMORY
 }
 
 val IterableDatatypes = setOf(
diff --git a/compiler/src/prog8/ast/base/Extensions.kt b/compiler/src/prog8/ast/base/Extensions.kt
index 5d1ab1471..08173760a 100644
--- a/compiler/src/prog8/ast/base/Extensions.kt
+++ b/compiler/src/prog8/ast/base/Extensions.kt
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import prog8.ast.processing.*
 import prog8.ast.statements.Assignment
 import prog8.ast.statements.ForLoop
 import prog8.compiler.CompilationOptions
-import prog8.optimizer.RemoveNops
+import prog8.optimizer.FlattenAnonymousScopesAndRemoveNops
 
 
 // the name of the subroutine that should be called for every block to initialize its variables
@@ -17,9 +17,9 @@ internal const val initvarsSubName="prog8_init_vars"
 internal const val autoHeapValuePrefix = "auto_heap_value_"
 
 
-internal fun Program.removeNops() {
-    val remover = RemoveNops()
-    remover.visit(this)
+internal fun Program.removeNopsFlattenAnonScopes() {
+    val flattener = FlattenAnonymousScopesAndRemoveNops()
+    flattener.visit(this)
 }
 
 
diff --git a/compiler/src/prog8/ast/processing/AstChecker.kt b/compiler/src/prog8/ast/processing/AstChecker.kt
index de620df49..0eb29c3f6 100644
--- a/compiler/src/prog8/ast/processing/AstChecker.kt
+++ b/compiler/src/prog8/ast/processing/AstChecker.kt
@@ -489,6 +489,14 @@ internal class AstChecker(private val program: Program,
 
         when(decl.type) {
             VarDeclType.VAR, VarDeclType.CONST -> {
+                if(decl.struct!=null || decl.datatype==DataType.STRUCT) {
+                    if(decl.datatype!=DataType.STRUCT)
+                        throw FatalAstException("struct vardecl should be of data type struct $decl")
+                    if(decl.struct==null)
+                        throw FatalAstException("struct vardecl should be linked to its struct $decl")
+                    if(decl.zeropage)
+                        err("struct can not be in zeropage")
+                }
                 if (decl.value == null) {
                     when {
                         decl.datatype in NumericDatatypes -> {
@@ -502,6 +510,9 @@ internal class AstChecker(private val program: Program,
                             litVal.parent = decl
                             decl.value = litVal
                         }
+                        decl.datatype == DataType.STRUCT -> {
+                            // TODO structs are not initialized with a literal value yet, should be an array of zeros!
+                        }
                         decl.type== VarDeclType.VAR -> {
                             val litVal = LiteralValue(decl.datatype, initHeapId = heapStringSentinel, position = decl.position)    // point to the sentinel heap value instead
                             litVal.parent=decl
@@ -558,16 +569,6 @@ internal class AstChecker(private val program: Program,
                     }
                 }
             }
-            VarDeclType.STRUCT -> {
-                if(decl.struct==null)
-                    throw FatalAstException("struct vardecl should be linked to its struct $decl")
-                if(decl.datatype!=DataType.STRUCT)
-                    throw FatalAstException("struct vardecl should be of data type struct $decl")
-                if(decl.zeropage)
-                    err("struct can not be in zeropage")
-                if(decl.value!=null)
-                    err("struct can not have an initialization value")      // TODO allow struct to have initalization values
-            }
         }
 
         return super.visit(decl)
@@ -1274,7 +1275,7 @@ internal class AstChecker(private val program: Program,
             else {
                 if(decl.zeropage)
                     checkResult.add(SyntaxError("struct can not contain zeropage members", decl.position))
-                if(decl.type == VarDeclType.STRUCT)
+                if(decl.datatype==DataType.STRUCT)
                     checkResult.add(SyntaxError("structs can not be nested", decl.position))
             }
         }
diff --git a/compiler/src/prog8/ast/processing/AstIdentifiersChecker.kt b/compiler/src/prog8/ast/processing/AstIdentifiersChecker.kt
index 80054e9f7..273a4470d 100644
--- a/compiler/src/prog8/ast/processing/AstIdentifiersChecker.kt
+++ b/compiler/src/prog8/ast/processing/AstIdentifiersChecker.kt
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ internal class AstIdentifiersChecker(private val namespace: INameScope) : IAstMo
 
         // is it a struct variable? then define all its struct members as mangled names,
         //    and include the original decl as well.
-        if(decl.type==VarDeclType.STRUCT) {
+        if(decl.datatype==DataType.STRUCT) {
             if(decl.structHasBeenFlattened)
                 return decl    // don't do this multiple times
 
diff --git a/compiler/src/prog8/ast/processing/VarInitValueAndAddressOfCreator.kt b/compiler/src/prog8/ast/processing/VarInitValueAndAddressOfCreator.kt
index 5c6ab76b7..6d495172e 100644
--- a/compiler/src/prog8/ast/processing/VarInitValueAndAddressOfCreator.kt
+++ b/compiler/src/prog8/ast/processing/VarInitValueAndAddressOfCreator.kt
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ import prog8.ast.expressions.FunctionCall
 import prog8.ast.expressions.IdentifierReference
 import prog8.ast.expressions.LiteralValue
 import prog8.ast.statements.*
+import prog8.compiler.CompilerException
+
 
 internal class VarInitValueAndAddressOfCreator(private val namespace: INameScope): IAstModifyingVisitor {
     // For VarDecls that declare an initialization value:
@@ -59,6 +61,24 @@ internal class VarInitValueAndAddressOfCreator(private val namespace: INameScope
                     decl.position
             )
         }
+
+        if(decl.datatype==DataType.STRUCT) {
+            // a struct initialization value
+            // flatten it to assignment statements
+            val sourceArray = (decl.value as LiteralValue).arrayvalue!!
+            val memberAssignments = decl.struct!!.statements.zip(sourceArray).map { member ->
+                val memberDecl = member.first as VarDecl
+                val mangled = mangledStructMemberName(decl.name, memberDecl.name)
+                val idref = IdentifierReference(listOf(mangled), decl.position)
+                val target = AssignTarget(null, idref, null, null, decl.position)
+                val assign = VariableInitializationAssignment(target, null, member.second, member.second.position)
+                assign
+            }
+            val scope = AnonymousScope(memberAssignments.toMutableList(), decl.position)
+            scope.linkParents(decl.parent)
+            return scope
+        }
+
         return decl
     }
 
diff --git a/compiler/src/prog8/compiler/AstToSourceCode.kt b/compiler/src/prog8/compiler/AstToSourceCode.kt
index 70a879ed0..b79cbff98 100644
--- a/compiler/src/prog8/compiler/AstToSourceCode.kt
+++ b/compiler/src/prog8/compiler/AstToSourceCode.kt
@@ -103,16 +103,10 @@ class AstToSourceCode(val output: (text: String) -> Unit): IAstVisitor {
     }
 
     override fun visit(decl: VarDecl) {
-//        if(decl.hiddenButDoNotRemove) {
-//            // skip autogenerated vardecl
-//            return
-//        }
-
         when(decl.type) {
             VarDeclType.VAR -> {}
             VarDeclType.CONST -> output("const ")
             VarDeclType.MEMORY -> output("&")
-            VarDeclType.STRUCT -> output("${decl.struct!!.name} ")
         }
         output(decl.struct?.name ?: "")
         output(datatypeString(decl.datatype))
@@ -185,7 +179,7 @@ class AstToSourceCode(val output: (text: String) -> Unit): IAstVisitor {
     private fun outputStatements(statements: List<IStatement>) {
         for(stmt in statements) {
             if(stmt is VarDecl && stmt.hiddenButDoNotRemove)
-                continue    // skip autogenerated decls
+                continue    // skip autogenerated decls (to avoid generating a newline)
             outputi("")
             stmt.accept(this)
             output("\n")
@@ -436,6 +430,6 @@ class AstToSourceCode(val output: (text: String) -> Unit): IAstVisitor {
         outputln("")
     }
     override fun visit(nopStatement: NopStatement) {
-        output("; NOP")
+        output("; NOP @ ${nopStatement.position}  $nopStatement")
     }
 }
diff --git a/compiler/src/prog8/compiler/Compiler.kt b/compiler/src/prog8/compiler/Compiler.kt
index 8467529ce..2fe0f37fb 100644
--- a/compiler/src/prog8/compiler/Compiler.kt
+++ b/compiler/src/prog8/compiler/Compiler.kt
@@ -682,7 +682,6 @@ internal class Compiler(private val program: Program) {
                             else -> throw CompilerException("invalid datatype for memory variable expression: $target")
                         }
                     }
-                    VarDeclType.STRUCT -> TODO("decltype struct")
                 }
 
             }
@@ -1448,23 +1447,7 @@ internal class Compiler(private val program: Program) {
                 }
                 DataType.STRUCT -> {
                     // Assume the value is an array. Flatten the struct assignment into memberwise assignments.
-                    val identifier = stmt.target.identifier!!
-                    val identifierName = identifier.nameInSource.single()
-                    val targetVar = identifier.targetVarDecl(program.namespace)!!
-                    val struct = targetVar.struct!!
-                    val sourceVar = (stmt.value as IdentifierReference).targetVarDecl(program.namespace)!!
-                    if(!sourceVar.isArray)
-                        throw CompilerException("can only assign arrays to structs")
-                    val sourceArray = (sourceVar.value as LiteralValue).arrayvalue!!
-                    for(member in struct.statements.zip(sourceArray)) {
-                        val decl = member.first as VarDecl
-                        val value = member.second.constValue(program)!!
-                        val mangled = mangledStructMemberName(identifierName, decl.name)
-                        val idref = IdentifierReference(listOf(mangled), stmt.position)
-                        val assign = Assignment(AssignTarget(null, idref, null, null, stmt.position), null, value, value.position)
-                        assign.linkParents(stmt)
-                        translate(assign)
-                    }
+                    flattenStructAssignment(stmt, program).forEach { translate(it) }
                     return
                 }
                 in StringDatatypes -> throw CompilerException("incompatible data types valueDt=$valueDt  targetDt=$targetDt  at $stmt")
@@ -1481,6 +1464,26 @@ internal class Compiler(private val program: Program) {
         popValueIntoTarget(stmt.target, datatype)
     }
 
+    private fun flattenStructAssignment(structAssignment: Assignment, program: Program): List<Assignment> {
+        val identifier = structAssignment.target.identifier!!
+        val identifierName = identifier.nameInSource.single()
+        val targetVar = identifier.targetVarDecl(program.namespace)!!
+        val struct = targetVar.struct!!
+        val sourceVar = (structAssignment.value as IdentifierReference).targetVarDecl(program.namespace)!!
+        if(!sourceVar.isArray)
+            throw CompilerException("can only assign arrays to structs")
+        val sourceArray = (sourceVar.value as LiteralValue).arrayvalue!!
+        return struct.statements.zip(sourceArray).map { member ->
+            val decl = member.first as VarDecl
+            val mangled = mangledStructMemberName(identifierName, decl.name)
+            val idref = IdentifierReference(listOf(mangled), structAssignment.position)
+            val assign = Assignment(AssignTarget(null, idref, null, null, structAssignment.position),
+                    null, member.second, member.second.position)
+            assign.linkParents(structAssignment)
+            assign
+        }
+    }
+
     private fun pushHeapVarAddress(value: IExpression, removeLastOpcode: Boolean) {
         when (value) {
             is LiteralValue -> throw CompilerException("can only push address of string or array (value on the heap)")
@@ -1520,9 +1523,6 @@ internal class Compiler(private val program: Program) {
                             prog.instr(opcode, RuntimeValue(DataType.UWORD, address))
                         }
                         VarDeclType.CONST -> throw CompilerException("cannot assign to const")
-                        VarDeclType.STRUCT -> {
-                            TODO("decltype struct $assignTarget")
-                        }
                     }
                 } else throw CompilerException("invalid assignment target type ${target::class}")
             }
diff --git a/compiler/src/prog8/compiler/Main.kt b/compiler/src/prog8/compiler/Main.kt
index cf92d4cda..7ce44951c 100644
--- a/compiler/src/prog8/compiler/Main.kt
+++ b/compiler/src/prog8/compiler/Main.kt
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ fun compileProgram(filepath: Path,
                 }
             }
 
-            programAst.removeNops()
+            programAst.removeNopsFlattenAnonScopes()
             programAst.checkValid(compilerOptions)          // check if final tree is valid
             programAst.checkRecursion()         // check if there are recursive subroutine calls
 
diff --git a/compiler/src/prog8/compiler/intermediate/IntermediateProgram.kt b/compiler/src/prog8/compiler/intermediate/IntermediateProgram.kt
index ebd7b3957..0b1399ef6 100644
--- a/compiler/src/prog8/compiler/intermediate/IntermediateProgram.kt
+++ b/compiler/src/prog8/compiler/intermediate/IntermediateProgram.kt
@@ -415,6 +415,10 @@ class IntermediateProgram(val name: String, var loadAddress: Int, val heap: Heap
                             throw CompilerException("array should already be in the heap")
                         RuntimeValue(decl.datatype, heapId = litval.heapId)
                     }
+                    DataType.STRUCT -> {
+                        // struct variables have been flattened already
+                        return
+                    }
                     else -> throw CompilerException("weird datatype")
                 }
                 currentBlock.variables[scopedname] = value
@@ -435,9 +439,6 @@ class IntermediateProgram(val name: String, var loadAddress: Int, val heap: Heap
                 if(lv.type in IntegerDatatypes)
                     currentBlock.memoryPointers[scopedname] = Pair(lv.asIntegerValue!!, decl.datatype)
             }
-            VarDeclType.STRUCT -> {
-                // the struct decl itself will be replaced by mangled declarations for each of their members.
-            }
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/compiler/src/prog8/optimizer/Extensions.kt b/compiler/src/prog8/optimizer/Extensions.kt
index a0d0796c5..7921716d5 100644
--- a/compiler/src/prog8/optimizer/Extensions.kt
+++ b/compiler/src/prog8/optimizer/Extensions.kt
@@ -31,14 +31,6 @@ internal fun Program.constantFold() {
 internal fun Program.optimizeStatements(optimizeInlining: Boolean): Int {
     val optimizer = StatementOptimizer(this, optimizeInlining)
     optimizer.visit(this)
-    for(scope in optimizer.scopesToFlatten.reversed()) {
-        val namescope = scope.parent as INameScope
-        val idx = namescope.statements.indexOf(scope as IStatement)
-        if(idx>=0) {
-            namescope.statements[idx] = NopStatement.insteadOf(namescope.statements[idx])
-            namescope.statements.addAll(idx, scope.statements)
-        }
-    }
     modules.forEach { it.linkParents(this.namespace) }   // re-link in final configuration
 
     return optimizer.optimizationsDone
diff --git a/compiler/src/prog8/optimizer/StatementOptimizer.kt b/compiler/src/prog8/optimizer/StatementOptimizer.kt
index b6cb3066d..e56dcde2a 100644
--- a/compiler/src/prog8/optimizer/StatementOptimizer.kt
+++ b/compiler/src/prog8/optimizer/StatementOptimizer.kt
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ import kotlin.math.floor
 internal class StatementOptimizer(private val program: Program, private val optimizeInlining: Boolean) : IAstModifyingVisitor {
     var optimizationsDone: Int = 0
         private set
-    var scopesToFlatten = mutableListOf<INameScope>()
 
     private val pureBuiltinFunctions = BuiltinFunctions.filter { it.value.pure }
     private val callgraph = CallGraph(program)
@@ -621,11 +620,6 @@ internal class StatementOptimizer(private val program: Program, private val opti
         if(linesToRemove.isNotEmpty()) {
             linesToRemove.reversed().forEach{scope.statements.removeAt(it)}
         }
-
-        if(scope.parent is INameScope) {
-            scopesToFlatten.add(scope)  // get rid of the anonymous scope
-        }
-
         return super.visit(scope)
     }
 
@@ -642,17 +636,38 @@ internal class StatementOptimizer(private val program: Program, private val opti
 
 
 
-internal class RemoveNops: IAstVisitor {
-    val nopStatements = mutableListOf<NopStatement>()
+internal class FlattenAnonymousScopesAndRemoveNops: IAstVisitor {
+    private var scopesToFlatten = mutableListOf<INameScope>()
+    private val nopStatements = mutableListOf<NopStatement>()
 
     override fun visit(program: Program) {
         super.visit(program)
-        // at the end, remove the encountered NOP statements
+        for(scope in scopesToFlatten.reversed()) {
+            val namescope = scope.parent as INameScope
+            val idx = namescope.statements.indexOf(scope as IStatement)
+            if(idx>=0) {
+                val nop = NopStatement.insteadOf(namescope.statements[idx])
+                nop.parent = namescope as Node
+                namescope.statements[idx] = nop
+                namescope.statements.addAll(idx, scope.statements)
+                scope.statements.forEach { it.parent = namescope as Node }
+                visit(nop)
+            }
+        }
+
         this.nopStatements.forEach {
             it.definingScope().remove(it)
         }
     }
 
+    override fun visit(scope: AnonymousScope) {
+        if(scope.parent is INameScope) {
+            scopesToFlatten.add(scope)  // get rid of the anonymous scope
+        }
+
+        return super.visit(scope)
+    }
+
     override fun visit(nopStatement: NopStatement) {
         nopStatements.add(nopStatement)
     }
diff --git a/compiler/src/prog8/vm/astvm/AstVm.kt b/compiler/src/prog8/vm/astvm/AstVm.kt
index f0919a7c6..316b0fc4a 100644
--- a/compiler/src/prog8/vm/astvm/AstVm.kt
+++ b/compiler/src/prog8/vm/astvm/AstVm.kt
@@ -396,7 +396,6 @@ class AstVm(val program: Program) {
                                 mem.setUByte(addr,newval.toShort())
                             }
                             VarDeclType.CONST -> throw VmExecutionException("can't be const")
-                            VarDeclType.STRUCT -> TODO("struct decltype")
                         }
                     }
                     stmt.target.memoryAddress != null -> {
diff --git a/compiler/src/prog8/vm/astvm/Expressions.kt b/compiler/src/prog8/vm/astvm/Expressions.kt
index ed9c43b11..070cbfe11 100644
--- a/compiler/src/prog8/vm/astvm/Expressions.kt
+++ b/compiler/src/prog8/vm/astvm/Expressions.kt
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ fun evaluate(expr: IExpression, ctx: EvalContext): RuntimeValue {
             if(variable is VarDecl) {
                 if(variable.type==VarDeclType.VAR)
                     return ctx.runtimeVars.get(variable.definingScope(), variable.name)
-                else if(variable.type==VarDeclType.STRUCT) {
+                else if(variable.datatype==DataType.STRUCT) {
                     throw VmExecutionException("cannot process structs by-value.  at ${expr.position}")
                 }
                 else {
diff --git a/compiler/src/prog8/vm/astvm/VariablesCreator.kt b/compiler/src/prog8/vm/astvm/VariablesCreator.kt
index ba52ac295..704c117cb 100644
--- a/compiler/src/prog8/vm/astvm/VariablesCreator.kt
+++ b/compiler/src/prog8/vm/astvm/VariablesCreator.kt
@@ -49,9 +49,6 @@ class VariablesCreator(private val runtimeVariables: RuntimeVariables, private v
                 VarDeclType.CONST -> {
                     // consts should have been const-folded away
                 }
-                VarDeclType.STRUCT -> {
-                    // struct vardecl can be skipped because its members have been flattened out
-                }
             }
         }
         return super.visit(decl)
diff --git a/examples/test.p8 b/examples/test.p8
index 5a06745e4..073551f98 100644
--- a/examples/test.p8
+++ b/examples/test.p8
@@ -7,47 +7,47 @@
         uword derp
         ubyte[] v = [22,33,44]
 
-        Color foreground
-        Color foreground2   = [11,22,33]
+        Color foreground    = [1,2,3]
+        c64scr.print_ub(foreground.red)
+        c64.CHROUT(':')
+        c64scr.print_ub(foreground.green)
+        c64.CHROUT(':')
+        c64scr.print_ub(foreground.blue)
+        c64.CHROUT('\n')
 
-        foreground.red = 111
-        ; foreground2.red = 111
+
+        Color background = [255,255,255]            ; @todo make zeros if no value is given
+        Color cursor
+
+        foreground.red=99
+        background.blue=foreground.red
+
+        cursor = [1,2,3]    ; assign all members at once
+        cursor = v
+        ;cursor=foreground   ; @todo memberwise assignment
+
+        c64scr.print_ub(foreground.red)
+        c64.CHROUT(':')
+        c64scr.print_ub(foreground.green)
+        c64.CHROUT(':')
+        c64scr.print_ub(foreground.blue)
+        c64.CHROUT('\n')
+        c64scr.print_ub(background.red)
+        c64.CHROUT(':')
+        c64scr.print_ub(background.green)
+        c64.CHROUT(':')
+        c64scr.print_ub(background.blue)
+        c64.CHROUT('\n')
+        c64scr.print_ub(cursor.red)
+        c64.CHROUT(':')
+        c64scr.print_ub(cursor.green)
+        c64.CHROUT(':')
+        c64scr.print_ub(cursor.blue)
+        c64.CHROUT('\n')
+
+        return
     }
 
-;    sub test() {
-;        Color foreground    ; = [0,1,2]     ;@todo init values
-;        Color background
-;        Color cursor
-;
-;        foreground.red=99
-;        background.blue=foreground.red
-;
-;        cursor = [1,2,3]    ; assign all members at once
-;        cursor = v
-;        cursor=foreground   ; @todo memberwise assignment
-;
-;        c64scr.print_ub(foreground.red)
-;        c64.CHROUT(':')
-;        c64scr.print_ub(foreground.green)
-;        c64.CHROUT(':')
-;        c64scr.print_ub(foreground.blue)
-;        c64.CHROUT('\n')
-;        c64scr.print_ub(background.red)
-;        c64.CHROUT(':')
-;        c64scr.print_ub(background.green)
-;        c64.CHROUT(':')
-;        c64scr.print_ub(background.blue)
-;        c64.CHROUT('\n')
-;        c64scr.print_ub(cursor.red)
-;        c64.CHROUT(':')
-;        c64scr.print_ub(cursor.green)
-;        c64.CHROUT(':')
-;        c64scr.print_ub(cursor.blue)
-;        c64.CHROUT('\n')
-;
-;        return
-;    }
-
     struct Color {
         ubyte red
         ubyte green