diff --git a/compiler/examples/test.p8 b/compiler/examples/test.p8
index 544278a31..e58a62e13 100644
--- a/compiler/examples/test.p8
+++ b/compiler/examples/test.p8
@@ -4,12 +4,10 @@
 
 ~ main {
 
-    c64.TIME_HI=1       ; @todo WARNING about 'free' statements in main
-    c64.TIME_MID=0
-    c64.TIME_LO=0
-
             ;c64scr.PLOT(screenx(x), screeny(y))    ; @todo fix argument calculation???!!!
 
+    ; @todo unify the type cast functions...   "wrd(5)"  ->  "5 as word"
+
     sub toscreenx(float x, float z) -> word {
         return 42
     }
diff --git a/compiler/src/prog8/ast/AstChecker.kt b/compiler/src/prog8/ast/AstChecker.kt
index 134bfac5f..05633bb42 100644
--- a/compiler/src/prog8/ast/AstChecker.kt
+++ b/compiler/src/prog8/ast/AstChecker.kt
@@ -80,6 +80,25 @@ class AstChecker(private val namespace: INameScope,
                 checkResult.add(SyntaxError("program entrypoint subroutine can't have parameters and/or return values", startSub.position))
         }
 
+        if(mainBlock!=null) {
+            // the main module cannot contain 'regular' statements (they will never be executed!)
+            for (statement in mainBlock.statements) {
+                val ok = when(statement) {
+                    is Block->true
+                    is Directive->true
+                    is Label->true
+                    is VarDecl->true
+                    is InlineAssembly->true
+                    is INameScope->true
+                    else->false
+                }
+                if(!ok) {
+                    checkResult.add(SyntaxError("main block contains regular statements, this is not allowed (they'll never get executed). Use subroutines.", statement.position))
+                    break
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
         // there can be an optional 'irq' block with a 'irq' subroutine in it,
         // which will be used as the 60hz irq routine in the vm if it's present.
         val irqBlock = module.statements.singleOrNull { it is Block && it.name=="irq" } as? Block?