diff --git a/codeOptimizers/src/prog8/optimizer/UnusedCodeRemover.kt b/codeOptimizers/src/prog8/optimizer/UnusedCodeRemover.kt
index 839f9b18b..65499482f 100644
--- a/codeOptimizers/src/prog8/optimizer/UnusedCodeRemover.kt
+++ b/codeOptimizers/src/prog8/optimizer/UnusedCodeRemover.kt
@@ -69,14 +69,14 @@ class UnusedCodeRemover(private val program: Program,
     override fun after(block: Block, parent: Node): Iterable<IAstModification> {
         if("force_output" !in block.options()) {
             if (block.containsNoCodeNorVars) {
-                if(block.name != internedStringsModuleName) {
+                if(block.name != internedStringsModuleName && "ignore_unused" !in block.options()) {
                     if(!block.statements.any { it is Subroutine && it.hasBeenInlined })
                         errors.info("removing unused block '${block.name}'", block.position)
                 }
                 return listOf(IAstModification.Remove(block, parent as IStatementContainer))
             }
             if(callgraph.unused(block)) {
-                if(block.statements.any{ it !is VarDecl || it.type== VarDeclType.VAR}) {
+                if(block.statements.any{ it !is VarDecl || it.type== VarDeclType.VAR} && "ignore_unused" !in block.options()) {
                     if(!block.statements.any { it is Subroutine && it.hasBeenInlined })
                         errors.info("removing unused block '${block.name}'", block.position)
                 }