diff --git a/compiler/res/prog8lib/cx16/sprites.p8 b/compiler/res/prog8lib/cx16/sprites.p8
index fa1d2511a..ed7a410c9 100644
--- a/compiler/res/prog8lib/cx16/sprites.p8
+++ b/compiler/res/prog8lib/cx16/sprites.p8
@@ -42,9 +42,15 @@ sprites {
         cx16.vpoke_mask(1, sprite_reg+1, %11110000, msb(addr))    ; address 16:13
     }
 
-    sub get_data_ptr(ubyte spritenum) {
+    inline asmsub get_data_ptr(ubyte spritenum @A) -> ubyte @R1, uword @R0 {
         ; -- returns the VRAM address where the sprite's bitmap data is stored
         ;    R1 (byte) = the vera bank (0 or 1), R0 (word) = the address.
+        %asm {{
+            jsr  p8b_sprites.p8s_get_data_ptr_internal
+        }}
+    }
+
+    sub get_data_ptr_internal(ubyte spritenum) {
         sprite_reg = VERA_SPRITEREGS + spritenum*$0008
         cx16.r0L = cx16.vpeek(1, sprite_reg)
         cx16.r0H = cx16.vpeek(1, sprite_reg+1)
diff --git a/docs/source/todo.rst b/docs/source/todo.rst
index ede881340..1dae37e6b 100644
--- a/docs/source/todo.rst
+++ b/docs/source/todo.rst
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 TODO
 ====
 
+docs: stress more that the @split for word arrays can provide significant code efficiency over normal linear word array
+
 optimizer bug, see "optimizing inlined functions must reference proper scopes" unittest (skipped for now)
 causes compiler error for virtual: just calling txt.cls() gives compile error undefined symbol clear_screen