diff --git a/fine/src/compiler.rs b/fine/src/compiler.rs
index 166beb8a..05fb34e7 100644
--- a/fine/src/compiler.rs
+++ b/fine/src/compiler.rs
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ pub const EXTERN_USER_FIRST: usize = 100000;
 //       But I'm not cool.
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy)]
 pub enum Instruction {
-    Panic,
+    Panic(usize),
 
     BoolNot,
     Call(usize),
@@ -173,6 +173,22 @@ impl<'a> Compiler<'a> {
         index
     }
 
+    fn inst_panic<T>(&mut self, description: T) -> Instruction
+    where
+        T: Into<String>,
+    {
+        let index = self.add_string(description.into());
+        Instruction::Panic(index)
+    }
+
+    fn push_panic<T>(&mut self, description: T) -> usize
+    where
+        T: Into<String>,
+    {
+        let instruction = self.inst_panic(description);
+        self.push(instruction)
+    }
+
     fn patch(&mut self, i: usize, f: impl FnOnce(usize) -> Instruction) {
         let index = self.function.instructions.len();
         self.function.instructions[i] = f(index);
@@ -226,12 +242,12 @@ macro_rules! ice {
     }}
 }
 
-macro_rules! inst_panic {
-    ($($t:tt)+) => {{
-        // eprintln!($($t)*);
-        Instruction::Panic
-    }};
-}
+// macro_rules! inst_panic {
+//     ($($t:tt)+) => {{
+//         // eprintln!($($t)*);
+//         Instruction::Panic
+//     }};
+// }
 
 // macro_rules! ice {
 //     ($compiler:expr, $tr:expr, $($t:tt)*) => {{}};
@@ -318,11 +334,12 @@ fn compile_expression(c: &mut Compiler, t: TreeRef) {
         TreeKind::NewObjectExpression => compile_new_object_expression(c, t, tree),
         TreeKind::SelfReference => compile_self_reference(c),
         TreeKind::UnaryExpression => compile_unary_operator(c, t, tree),
+        TreeKind::MatchExpression => compile_match_expression(c, tree),
 
         _ => ice!(c, t, "{tree:?} is not an expression, cannot compile"),
     };
     if matches!(cr, None) {
-        c.push(inst_panic!("panic compiling expression {:?}", tree));
+        c.push_panic(format!("panic compiling expression {:?}", tree));
     }
 }
 
@@ -342,7 +359,7 @@ fn compile_literal(c: &mut Compiler, t: TreeRef, tr: &Tree) -> CR {
             let index = c.add_string(result);
             c.push(Instruction::PushString(index))
         }
-        Type::Error => c.push(inst_panic!("compiling literal {:?}", tr)),
+        Type::Error => c.push_panic(format!("compiling literal {:?}", tr)),
         _ => ice!(c, t, "unsupported literal type: {t:?}"),
     };
     OK
@@ -412,10 +429,10 @@ where
 fn compile_binary_expression(c: &mut Compiler, t: TreeRef, tr: &Tree) -> CR {
     let op = tr.nth_token(1)?;
     match op.kind {
-        TokenKind::Plus => compile_simple_binary_expression(c, tr, |_, t| match t {
+        TokenKind::Plus => compile_simple_binary_expression(c, tr, |c, t| match t {
             Type::F64 => Instruction::FloatAdd,
             Type::String => Instruction::StringAdd,
-            _ => inst_panic!("panic adding {}", t),
+            _ => c.inst_panic(format!("panic adding {}", t)),
         }),
         TokenKind::Minus => {
             compile_simple_binary_expression(c, tr, |_, _| Instruction::FloatSubtract)
@@ -427,30 +444,30 @@ fn compile_binary_expression(c: &mut Compiler, t: TreeRef, tr: &Tree) -> CR {
             compile_simple_binary_expression(c, tr, |_, _| Instruction::FloatDivide)
         }
 
-        TokenKind::Less => compile_simple_binary_expression(c, tr, |_, t| match t {
+        TokenKind::Less => compile_simple_binary_expression(c, tr, |c, t| match t {
             Type::F64 => Instruction::LessFloat,
             Type::String => Instruction::LessString,
-            _ => inst_panic!("panic less {}", t),
+            _ => c.inst_panic(format!("panic less {}", t)),
         }),
         TokenKind::LessEqual => {
-            compile_simple_binary_expression(c, tr, |_, t| match t {
+            compile_simple_binary_expression(c, tr, |c, t| match t {
                 Type::F64 => Instruction::GreaterFloat,
                 Type::String => Instruction::GreaterString,
-                _ => inst_panic!("panic less equal {}", t),
+                _ => c.inst_panic(format!("panic less equal {}", t)),
             });
             c.push(Instruction::BoolNot);
             OK
         }
-        TokenKind::Greater => compile_simple_binary_expression(c, tr, |_, t| match t {
+        TokenKind::Greater => compile_simple_binary_expression(c, tr, |c, t| match t {
             Type::F64 => Instruction::GreaterFloat,
             Type::String => Instruction::GreaterString,
-            _ => inst_panic!("panic greater {}", t),
+            _ => c.inst_panic(format!("panic greater {}", t)),
         }),
         TokenKind::GreaterEqual => {
-            compile_simple_binary_expression(c, tr, |_, t| match t {
+            compile_simple_binary_expression(c, tr, |c, t| match t {
                 Type::F64 => Instruction::LessFloat,
                 Type::String => Instruction::LessString,
-                _ => inst_panic!("panic greater equal {}", t),
+                _ => c.inst_panic(format!("panic greater equal {}", t)),
             });
             c.push(Instruction::BoolNot);
             OK
@@ -519,7 +536,7 @@ fn compile_binary_expression(c: &mut Compiler, t: TreeRef, tr: &Tree) -> CR {
                         Type::F64 => Instruction::EqFloat,
                         Type::String => Instruction::EqString,
                         Type::Bool => Instruction::EqBool, // ?
-                        _ => inst_panic!("panic comparing {}", arg_type),
+                        _ => c.inst_panic(format!("panic comparing {}", arg_type)),
                     }
                 }
             })
@@ -579,11 +596,11 @@ fn compile_binary_expression(c: &mut Compiler, t: TreeRef, tr: &Tree) -> CR {
                     }
                 }
 
-                Declaration::ExternFunction { .. } => inst_panic!("store ext"),
-                Declaration::Function { .. } => inst_panic!("store func"),
-                Declaration::Class { .. } => inst_panic!("store class"),
-                Declaration::ImportedModule { .. } => inst_panic!("store import"),
-                Declaration::ImportedDeclaration { .. } => inst_panic!("store import decl"),
+                Declaration::ExternFunction { .. } => c.inst_panic("store ext"),
+                Declaration::Function { .. } => c.inst_panic("store func"),
+                Declaration::Class { .. } => c.inst_panic("store class"),
+                Declaration::ImportedModule { .. } => c.inst_panic("store import"),
+                Declaration::ImportedDeclaration { .. } => c.inst_panic("store import decl"),
             };
             c.push(instruction);
             OK
@@ -672,6 +689,36 @@ fn compile_load_declaration(c: &mut Compiler, t: TreeRef, declaration: &Declarat
     OK
 }
 
+fn compile_match_expression(c: &mut Compiler, tree: &Tree) -> Option<()> {
+    compile_expression(c, tree.nth_tree(1)?);
+
+    let mut patches = Vec::new();
+    let match_body = tree.child_tree_of_kind(c.syntax, TreeKind::MatchBody)?;
+    for arm in match_body.children_of_kind(c.syntax, TreeKind::MatchArm) {
+        let arm = &c.syntax[arm];
+
+        // Evaluate pattern...
+        compile_pattern(c, arm.nth_tree(0)?)?;
+
+        // ...If false jump to next arm.
+        let jump_next_index = c.push(Instruction::JumpFalse(0));
+
+        // ...If true run expression and jump out.
+        compile_expression(c, arm.nth_tree(2)?);
+        patches.push(c.push(Instruction::Jump(0)));
+
+        c.patch(jump_next_index, |i| Instruction::JumpFalse(i));
+    }
+    c.push_panic("Fell through all match arms");
+
+    // Patch the jumps to the end of the match expression.
+    for patch in patches {
+        c.patch(patch, |i| Instruction::Jump(i));
+    }
+
+    OK
+}
+
 fn compile_is_expression(c: &mut Compiler, tree: &Tree) -> Option<()> {
     compile_expression(c, tree.nth_tree(0)?);
 
@@ -766,7 +813,7 @@ fn compile_type_expr_eq(c: &mut Compiler, t: TreeRef) {
     };
 
     if result.is_none() {
-        c.push(inst_panic!("panic compiling type expression eq {:?}", tree));
+        c.push_panic(format!("panic compiling type expression eq {:?}", tree));
     }
 }
 
@@ -877,7 +924,7 @@ fn compile_argument(c: &mut Compiler, tree: &Tree) -> CR {
 fn compile_new_object_expression(c: &mut Compiler, t: TreeRef, tree: &Tree) -> CR {
     // We pass in the arguments.... by... field order?
     let Type::Object(mid, ct, _) = c.semantics.type_of(t) else {
-        c.push(inst_panic!("new obj not ob"));
+        c.push_panic("new obj not ob");
         return OK;
     };
 
@@ -963,7 +1010,7 @@ fn compile_member_access(c: &mut Compiler, t: TreeRef, tree: &Tree) -> CR {
             class.static_env.clone()
         }
         _ => {
-            c.push(inst_panic!("cannot get environment of {typ}"));
+            c.push_panic("cannot get environment of {typ}");
             return None;
         }
     };
@@ -1018,7 +1065,7 @@ fn compile_statement(c: &mut Compiler, t: TreeRef, gen_value: bool) {
         _ => ice!(c, t, "unsupported statement tree kind {:?}", tree.kind),
     };
     if matches!(cr, None) {
-        c.push(inst_panic!("stat {:?}", tree));
+        c.push_panic(format!("stat {:?}", tree));
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/fine/src/vm.rs b/fine/src/vm.rs
index 91660a03..032a8c7e 100644
--- a/fine/src/vm.rs
+++ b/fine/src/vm.rs
@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@ use thiserror::Error;
 
 #[derive(Error, Debug)]
 pub enum VMErrorCode {
-    #[error("code panic (syntax or semantic error)")]
-    Panic,
+    #[error("code panic (syntax or semantic error): {0}")]
+    Panic(Rc<str>),
     #[error("internal error: stack underflow")]
     StackUnderflow,
     #[error("internal error: stack type mismatch: {0:?} is not {1:?}")]
@@ -394,7 +394,12 @@ fn eval_one(
     stack: &mut Vec<Frame>,
 ) -> Result<Flow> {
     match instruction {
-        Instruction::Panic => return Err(VMErrorCode::Panic),
+        Instruction::Panic(index) => {
+            let v = f
+                .get_string(index)
+                .unwrap_or_else(|_| "!!panic string out of range!!".into());
+            return Err(VMErrorCode::Panic(v));
+        }
         Instruction::BoolNot => {
             let value = f.pop_bool()?;
             f.push_bool(!value);
diff --git a/fine/tests/expression/alternates.fine b/fine/tests/expression/alternates.fine
index 43eb5faf..27aae472 100644
--- a/fine/tests/expression/alternates.fine
+++ b/fine/tests/expression/alternates.fine
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ fun attack(weapon: MeleeWeapon or RangedWeapon, monster: Monster, distance: f64)
   // `and` that follows the declaration in the `is` still has the variables
   // from the `is` binding in scope.
   if weapon is MeleeWeapon and distance > 1 or
-     weapon is w : RangedWeapon and (distance < w.minRange or distance > w.maxRange) {
+     weapon is w:RangedWeapon and (distance < w.minRange or distance > w.maxRange) {
      print("You are out of range");
      return
   }
@@ -127,6 +127,12 @@ fun test() -> f64 {
     sum = sum + v;
   }
 
+  let it = new Iterator { current: 0 };
+  sum = sum + match it.next() {
+    v:f64 -> 100,
+    _ -> 1000,
+  };
+
   // Unroll by hand...
   let it = new Iterator { current: 0 };
   while true {
@@ -141,5 +147,6 @@ fun test() -> f64 {
   // like the above.
 }
 
-// @ignore never finished compiling `match`
-// @no-errors
\ No newline at end of file
+// @ignore not finished yet, still compiler bugs
+// @no-errors
+// @eval: Float(90.0)
\ No newline at end of file