diff --git a/compiler/forget/src/HIR/BuildHIR.ts b/compiler/forget/src/HIR/BuildHIR.ts
index e8d2230e11..191a6e5f6e 100644
--- a/compiler/forget/src/HIR/BuildHIR.ts
+++ b/compiler/forget/src/HIR/BuildHIR.ts
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ export function lower(
         param.node.loc ?? GeneratedSource,
         InstructionKind.Let,
         param,
-        place
+        { kind: "LoadLocal", place, loc: place.loc }
       );
     } else {
       builder.errors.push({
@@ -628,7 +628,7 @@ function lowerStatement(
       const stmt = stmtPath as NodePath<t.ExpressionStatement>;
       const expression = stmt.get("expression");
       const value = lowerExpression(builder, expression);
-      if (expression.isAssignmentExpression() && value.kind === "Identifier") {
+      if (expression.isAssignmentExpression() && value.kind === "LoadLocal") {
         // already lowered to a place
         return;
       }
@@ -721,7 +721,12 @@ function lowerExpression(
   switch (exprNode.type) {
     case "Identifier": {
       const expr = exprPath as NodePath<t.Identifier>;
-      return lowerIdentifier(builder, expr);
+      const place = lowerIdentifier(builder, expr);
+      return {
+        kind: "LoadLocal",
+        place,
+        loc: exprLoc,
+      };
     }
     case "NullLiteral": {
       return {
@@ -958,7 +963,11 @@ function lowerExpression(
         });
         return { kind: "UnsupportedNode", node: expr.node, loc: exprLoc };
       }
-      return last;
+      return {
+        kind: "LoadLocal", // TODO: LoadTemp
+        place: last,
+        loc: last.loc,
+      };
     }
     case "ConditionalExpression": {
       const expr = exprPath as NodePath<t.ConditionalExpression>;
@@ -974,7 +983,7 @@ function lowerExpression(
         builder.push({
           id: makeInstructionId(0),
           lvalue: { kind: InstructionKind.Reassign, place: { ...place } },
-          value: lowerExpressionToTemporary(builder, expr.get("consequent")),
+          value: lowerExpression(builder, expr.get("consequent")),
           loc: exprLoc,
         });
         return {
@@ -989,7 +998,7 @@ function lowerExpression(
         builder.push({
           id: makeInstructionId(0),
           lvalue: { kind: InstructionKind.Reassign, place: { ...place } },
-          value: lowerExpressionToTemporary(builder, expr.get("alternate")),
+          value: lowerExpression(builder, expr.get("alternate")),
           loc: exprLoc,
         });
         return {
@@ -1021,7 +1030,7 @@ function lowerExpression(
         },
         continuationBlock
       );
-      return place;
+      return { kind: "LoadLocal", place, loc: place.loc };
     }
     case "LogicalExpression": {
       const expr = exprPath as NodePath<t.LogicalExpression>;
@@ -1037,7 +1046,11 @@ function lowerExpression(
         builder.push({
           id: makeInstructionId(0),
           lvalue: { kind: InstructionKind.Reassign, place: { ...place } },
-          value: { ...leftPlace },
+          value: {
+            kind: "LoadLocal",
+            place: { ...leftPlace },
+            loc: leftPlace.loc,
+          },
           loc: exprLoc,
         });
         return {
@@ -1051,7 +1064,7 @@ function lowerExpression(
         builder.push({
           id: makeInstructionId(0),
           lvalue: { kind: InstructionKind.Reassign, place: { ...place } },
-          value: lowerExpressionToTemporary(builder, expr.get("right")),
+          value: lowerExpression(builder, expr.get("right")),
           loc: exprLoc,
         });
         return {
@@ -1075,7 +1088,7 @@ function lowerExpression(
       builder.push({
         id: makeInstructionId(0),
         lvalue: { kind: InstructionKind.Reassign, place: { ...leftPlace } },
-        value: lowerExpressionToTemporary(builder, expr.get("left")),
+        value: lowerExpression(builder, expr.get("left")),
         loc: exprLoc,
       });
       builder.terminateWithContinuation(
@@ -1088,7 +1101,7 @@ function lowerExpression(
         },
         continuationBlock
       );
-      return place;
+      return { kind: "LoadLocal", place, loc: place.loc };
     }
     case "AssignmentExpression": {
       const expr = exprPath as NodePath<t.AssignmentExpression>;
@@ -1096,7 +1109,7 @@ function lowerExpression(
 
       if (builder.currentBlockKind() === "value") {
         // try lowering the RHS in case it also contains errors
-        lowerExpressionToTemporary(builder, expr.get("right"));
+        lowerExpression(builder, expr.get("right"));
         builder.errors.push({
           reason: `(BuildHIR::lowerExpression) Handle AssignmentExpression within a LogicalExpression or ConditionalExpression`,
           severity: ErrorSeverity.Todo,
@@ -1112,8 +1125,7 @@ function lowerExpression(
           left.node.loc ?? GeneratedSource,
           InstructionKind.Reassign,
           left,
-          // NOTE: it's okay not to lower to a temporary here because this is the entire RHS value, not a single operand
-          lowerExpressionToPlace(builder, expr.get("right"))
+          lowerExpression(builder, expr.get("right"))
         );
       }
 
@@ -1159,7 +1171,7 @@ function lowerExpression(
             },
             loc: exprLoc,
           });
-          return place;
+          return { kind: "LoadLocal", place, loc: exprLoc };
         }
         case "MemberExpression": {
           // a.b.c += <right>
@@ -1243,7 +1255,7 @@ function lowerExpression(
         value,
         loc: exprLoc,
       });
-      return place;
+      return { kind: "LoadLocal", place, loc: place.loc };
     }
     case "JSXElement": {
       const expr = exprPath as NodePath<t.JSXElement>;
@@ -1496,21 +1508,27 @@ function lowerExpression(
         },
         loc: expr.node.loc ?? GeneratedSource,
       });
-      const identifier = argument as NodePath<t.Identifier>;
-      const place = lowerIdentifier(builder, identifier);
+      const identifier = lowerIdentifier(
+        builder,
+        argument as NodePath<t.Identifier>
+      );
       builder.push({
         id: makeInstructionId(0),
-        lvalue: { place: { ...place }, kind: InstructionKind.Reassign },
+        lvalue: { place: { ...identifier }, kind: InstructionKind.Reassign },
         value: {
           kind: "BinaryExpression",
           operator: expr.node.operator === "++" ? "+" : "-",
-          left: { ...place },
+          left: { ...identifier },
           right: { ...temp },
           loc: exprLoc,
         },
         loc: exprLoc,
       });
-      return place;
+      return {
+        kind: "LoadLocal",
+        place: { ...identifier },
+        loc: exprLoc,
+      };
     }
     default: {
       builder.errors.push({
@@ -1703,8 +1721,8 @@ function lowerExpressionToTemporary(
   exprPath: NodePath<t.Expression>
 ): Place {
   const value = lowerExpression(builder, exprPath);
-  if (value.kind === "Identifier" && value.identifier.name === null) {
-    return value;
+  if (value.kind === "LoadLocal" && value.place.identifier.name === null) {
+    return value.place;
   }
   const exprLoc = exprPath.node.loc ?? GeneratedSource;
   const place: Place = buildTemporaryPlace(builder, exprLoc);
@@ -1722,8 +1740,8 @@ function lowerExpressionToPlace(
   exprPath: NodePath<t.Expression>
 ): Place {
   const value = lowerExpression(builder, exprPath);
-  if (value.kind === "Identifier") {
-    return value;
+  if (value.kind === "LoadLocal") {
+    return value.place;
   }
   const exprLoc = exprPath.node.loc ?? GeneratedSource;
   const place: Place = buildTemporaryPlace(builder, exprLoc);
@@ -1855,15 +1873,15 @@ function lowerAssignment(
         value,
         loc,
       });
-      return place;
+      return { kind: "LoadLocal", place, loc: place.loc };
     }
     case "MemberExpression": {
       const lvalue = lvaluePath as NodePath<t.MemberExpression>;
       const property = lvalue.get("property");
       const object = lowerExpressionToTemporary(builder, lvalue.get("object"));
       let valuePlace: Place;
-      if (value.kind === "Identifier") {
-        valuePlace = value;
+      if (value.kind === "LoadLocal") {
+        valuePlace = value.place;
       } else {
         valuePlace = buildTemporaryPlace(builder, loc);
         builder.push({
@@ -1958,7 +1976,7 @@ function lowerAssignment(
       }
       return hasError
         ? { kind: "UnsupportedNode", node: lvalueNode, loc }
-        : arrayPlace;
+        : { kind: "LoadLocal", place: arrayPlace, loc: arrayPlace.loc };
     }
     case "ObjectPattern": {
       const lvalue = lvaluePath as NodePath<t.ObjectPattern>;
@@ -2013,7 +2031,7 @@ function lowerAssignment(
       }
       return hasError
         ? { kind: "UnsupportedNode", node: lvalueNode, loc }
-        : objectPlace;
+        : { kind: "LoadLocal", place: objectPlace, loc: objectPlace.loc };
     }
     default: {
       builder.errors.push({
diff --git a/compiler/forget/src/HIR/HIR.ts b/compiler/forget/src/HIR/HIR.ts
index 5017d6b5e4..6a4d320259 100644
--- a/compiler/forget/src/HIR/HIR.ts
+++ b/compiler/forget/src/HIR/HIR.ts
@@ -396,7 +396,11 @@ export type Phi = {
  * Operands are therefore always a Place.
  */
 export type InstructionValue =
-  | Place
+  | {
+      kind: "LoadLocal";
+      place: Place;
+      loc: SourceLocation;
+    }
   | {
       kind: "Primitive";
       value: number | boolean | string | null | undefined;
diff --git a/compiler/forget/src/HIR/MergeConsecutiveBlocks.ts b/compiler/forget/src/HIR/MergeConsecutiveBlocks.ts
index 19af293d69..3c1a562dc7 100644
--- a/compiler/forget/src/HIR/MergeConsecutiveBlocks.ts
+++ b/compiler/forget/src/HIR/MergeConsecutiveBlocks.ts
@@ -69,9 +69,13 @@ export function mergeConsecutiveBlocks(fn: HIRFunction): void {
           kind: InstructionKind.Const,
         },
         value: {
-          kind: "Identifier",
-          identifier: operand,
-          effect: Effect.Read,
+          kind: "LoadLocal",
+          place: {
+            kind: "Identifier",
+            identifier: operand,
+            effect: Effect.Read,
+            loc: GeneratedSource,
+          },
           loc: GeneratedSource,
         },
         loc: GeneratedSource,
diff --git a/compiler/forget/src/HIR/PrintHIR.ts b/compiler/forget/src/HIR/PrintHIR.ts
index 8e8da1e6c4..f89e5a48c5 100644
--- a/compiler/forget/src/HIR/PrintHIR.ts
+++ b/compiler/forget/src/HIR/PrintHIR.ts
@@ -304,8 +304,8 @@ export function printInstructionValue(instrValue: ReactiveValue): string {
       value = `UnsupportedNode(${generate(instrValue.node).code})`;
       break;
     }
-    case "Identifier": {
-      value = printPlace(instrValue);
+    case "LoadLocal": {
+      value = `LoadLocal ${printPlace(instrValue.place)}`;
       break;
     }
     case "PropertyLoad": {
diff --git a/compiler/forget/src/HIR/visitors.ts b/compiler/forget/src/HIR/visitors.ts
index edad1e8ca6..c8485f3d92 100644
--- a/compiler/forget/src/HIR/visitors.ts
+++ b/compiler/forget/src/HIR/visitors.ts
@@ -48,8 +48,8 @@ export function* eachInstructionValueOperand(
       yield* instrValue.args;
       break;
     }
-    case "Identifier": {
-      yield instrValue;
+    case "LoadLocal": {
+      yield instrValue.place;
       break;
     }
     case "PropertyLoad": {
@@ -177,8 +177,8 @@ export function mapInstructionOperands(
       instrValue.value = fn(instrValue.value);
       break;
     }
-    case "Identifier": {
-      instr.value = fn(instrValue);
+    case "LoadLocal": {
+      instrValue.place = fn(instrValue.place);
       break;
     }
     case "NewExpression":
diff --git a/compiler/forget/src/Inference/AnalyseFunctions.ts b/compiler/forget/src/Inference/AnalyseFunctions.ts
index 12150b67ee..12678f49e6 100644
--- a/compiler/forget/src/Inference/AnalyseFunctions.ts
+++ b/compiler/forget/src/Inference/AnalyseFunctions.ts
@@ -62,9 +62,9 @@ export default function analyseFunctions(func: HIRFunction) {
           );
           break;
         }
-        case "Identifier": {
+        case "LoadLocal": {
           if (instr.lvalue.place.identifier.name === null) {
-            state.declareTemporary(instr.lvalue.place, instr.value);
+            state.declareTemporary(instr.lvalue.place, instr.value.place);
           }
           break;
         }
diff --git a/compiler/forget/src/Inference/DropMemoCalls.ts b/compiler/forget/src/Inference/DropMemoCalls.ts
index 6e9e538f2e..8c9353b768 100644
--- a/compiler/forget/src/Inference/DropMemoCalls.ts
+++ b/compiler/forget/src/Inference/DropMemoCalls.ts
@@ -40,9 +40,13 @@ export default function (func: HIRFunction) {
               // after:
               //   foo = $19
               instr.value = {
-                kind: "Identifier",
-                identifier: fn.identifier,
-                effect: Effect.Unknown,
+                kind: "LoadLocal",
+                place: {
+                  kind: "Identifier",
+                  identifier: fn.identifier,
+                  effect: Effect.Unknown,
+                  loc: instr.value.loc,
+                },
                 loc: instr.value.loc,
               };
             }
diff --git a/compiler/forget/src/Inference/InferAlias.ts b/compiler/forget/src/Inference/InferAlias.ts
index c101551233..1bd5df17a6 100644
--- a/compiler/forget/src/Inference/InferAlias.ts
+++ b/compiler/forget/src/Inference/InferAlias.ts
@@ -33,11 +33,11 @@ function inferInstr(instr: Instruction, state: AliasAnalyser) {
   const { lvalue, value: instrValue } = instr;
   let alias: Place | null = null;
   switch (instrValue.kind) {
-    case "Identifier": {
-      if (isPrimitiveType(instrValue.identifier)) {
+    case "LoadLocal": {
+      if (isPrimitiveType(instrValue.place.identifier)) {
         return;
       }
-      alias = instrValue;
+      alias = instrValue.place;
       break;
     }
     case "ComputedLoad":
diff --git a/compiler/forget/src/Inference/InferReferenceEffects.ts b/compiler/forget/src/Inference/InferReferenceEffects.ts
index 1f851f5530..f886ba318b 100644
--- a/compiler/forget/src/Inference/InferReferenceEffects.ts
+++ b/compiler/forget/src/Inference/InferReferenceEffects.ts
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ class InferenceState {
    */
   initialize(value: InstructionValue, kind: ValueKind) {
     invariant(
-      value.kind !== "Identifier",
+      value.kind !== "LoadLocal",
       "Expected all top-level identifiers to be defined as variables, not values"
     );
     this.#values.set(value, kind);
@@ -782,12 +782,12 @@ function inferBlock(
         state.alias(lvalue.place, instrValue.value);
         continue;
       }
-      case "Identifier": {
-        state.reference(instrValue, Effect.Capture);
+      case "LoadLocal": {
+        state.reference(instrValue.place, Effect.Capture);
         const lvalue = instr.lvalue;
         lvalue.place.effect = Effect.Mutate;
         // direct aliasing: `a = b`;
-        state.alias(lvalue.place, instrValue);
+        state.alias(lvalue.place, instrValue.place);
         continue;
       }
       default: {
diff --git a/compiler/forget/src/Optimization/ConstantPropagation.ts b/compiler/forget/src/Optimization/ConstantPropagation.ts
index 4df3188efb..a6e46a8483 100644
--- a/compiler/forget/src/Optimization/ConstantPropagation.ts
+++ b/compiler/forget/src/Optimization/ConstantPropagation.ts
@@ -308,8 +308,8 @@ function evaluateInstruction(
       }
       return null;
     }
-    case "Identifier": {
-      return read(constants, value);
+    case "LoadLocal": {
+      return read(constants, value.place);
     }
     default: {
       // TODO: handle more cases
diff --git a/compiler/forget/src/Optimization/DeadCodeElimination.ts b/compiler/forget/src/Optimization/DeadCodeElimination.ts
index 1addf063f7..42ddc812a8 100644
--- a/compiler/forget/src/Optimization/DeadCodeElimination.ts
+++ b/compiler/forget/src/Optimization/DeadCodeElimination.ts
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ function pruneableValue(value: InstructionValue): boolean {
     case "ComputedLoad":
     case "ComputedStore":
     case "FunctionExpression":
-    case "Identifier":
+    case "LoadLocal":
     case "JsxExpression":
     case "JsxFragment":
     case "JSXText":
diff --git a/compiler/forget/src/ReactiveScopes/BuildReactiveFunction.ts b/compiler/forget/src/ReactiveScopes/BuildReactiveFunction.ts
index f005478b54..0abbdfcb9a 100644
--- a/compiler/forget/src/ReactiveScopes/BuildReactiveFunction.ts
+++ b/compiler/forget/src/ReactiveScopes/BuildReactiveFunction.ts
@@ -484,7 +484,11 @@ class Driver {
         return {
           block: defaultBlock.id,
           place: defaultBlock.terminal.test,
-          value: defaultBlock.terminal.test,
+          value: {
+            kind: "LoadLocal",
+            place: defaultBlock.terminal.test,
+            loc: defaultBlock.terminal.test.loc,
+          },
           id: defaultBlock.terminal.id,
         };
       } else if (defaultBlock.instructions.length === 1) {
diff --git a/compiler/forget/src/ReactiveScopes/CodegenReactiveFunction.ts b/compiler/forget/src/ReactiveScopes/CodegenReactiveFunction.ts
index 33ff1c90a8..035775c8a6 100644
--- a/compiler/forget/src/ReactiveScopes/CodegenReactiveFunction.ts
+++ b/compiler/forget/src/ReactiveScopes/CodegenReactiveFunction.ts
@@ -696,8 +696,8 @@ function codegenInstructionValue(
       );
       break;
     }
-    case "Identifier": {
-      value = codegenPlace(cx, instrValue);
+    case "LoadLocal": {
+      value = codegenPlace(cx, instrValue.place);
       break;
     }
     case "FunctionExpression": {
@@ -714,7 +714,7 @@ function codegenInstructionValue(
     }
     case "TypeCastExpression": {
       value = t.typeCastExpression(
-        codegenInstructionValue(cx, instrValue.value),
+        codegenPlace(cx, instrValue.value),
         instrValue.type
       );
       break;
diff --git a/compiler/forget/src/ReactiveScopes/InferReactiveScopeVariables.ts b/compiler/forget/src/ReactiveScopes/InferReactiveScopeVariables.ts
index 9c67fe1506..5f686ad438 100644
--- a/compiler/forget/src/ReactiveScopes/InferReactiveScopeVariables.ts
+++ b/compiler/forget/src/ReactiveScopes/InferReactiveScopeVariables.ts
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ function mayAllocate(value: InstructionValue): boolean {
     case "LoadGlobal":
     case "TypeCastExpression":
     case "BinaryExpression":
-    case "Identifier":
+    case "LoadLocal":
     case "PropertyLoad":
     case "ComputedLoad":
     case "JSXText":
diff --git a/compiler/forget/src/ReactiveScopes/PromoteUsedTemporaries.ts b/compiler/forget/src/ReactiveScopes/PromoteUsedTemporaries.ts
index 07a973a061..9c91b5ea2d 100644
--- a/compiler/forget/src/ReactiveScopes/PromoteUsedTemporaries.ts
+++ b/compiler/forget/src/ReactiveScopes/PromoteUsedTemporaries.ts
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ class Visitor extends ReactiveFunctionVisitor<VisitorState> {
     if (
       instruction.lvalue !== null &&
       instruction.lvalue.place.identifier.name === null &&
-      instruction.value.kind !== "Identifier"
+      instruction.value.kind !== "LoadLocal"
     ) {
       state.temporaries.set(instruction.lvalue.place.identifier, 0);
     }
diff --git a/compiler/forget/src/ReactiveScopes/PropagateScopeDependencies.ts b/compiler/forget/src/ReactiveScopes/PropagateScopeDependencies.ts
index bdcaacf46b..2f1652e0fb 100644
--- a/compiler/forget/src/ReactiveScopes/PropagateScopeDependencies.ts
+++ b/compiler/forget/src/ReactiveScopes/PropagateScopeDependencies.ts
@@ -676,14 +676,14 @@ function visitInstructionValue(
   value: ReactiveValue,
   lvalue: LValue | null
 ): void {
-  if (value.kind === "Identifier" && lvalue !== null) {
+  if (value.kind === "LoadLocal" && lvalue !== null) {
     if (
-      value.identifier.name !== null &&
+      value.place.identifier.name !== null &&
       lvalue.place.identifier.name === null
     ) {
-      context.declareTemporary(lvalue.place, value);
+      context.declareTemporary(lvalue.place, value.place);
     } else {
-      context.visitOperand(value);
+      context.visitOperand(value.place);
     }
   } else if (value.kind === "PropertyLoad") {
     if (lvalue !== null) {
diff --git a/compiler/forget/src/ReactiveScopes/visitors.ts b/compiler/forget/src/ReactiveScopes/visitors.ts
index 6a5a5d8f3f..8abaa361b4 100644
--- a/compiler/forget/src/ReactiveScopes/visitors.ts
+++ b/compiler/forget/src/ReactiveScopes/visitors.ts
@@ -91,12 +91,12 @@ export class ReactiveFunctionVisitor<TState = void> {
       }
       case "return": {
         if (terminal.value !== null) {
-          this.visitValue(terminal.id, terminal.value, state);
+          this.visitPlace(terminal.id, terminal.value, state);
         }
         break;
       }
       case "throw": {
-        this.visitValue(terminal.id, terminal.value, state);
+        this.visitPlace(terminal.id, terminal.value, state);
         break;
       }
       case "for": {
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ export class ReactiveFunctionVisitor<TState = void> {
         break;
       }
       case "if": {
-        this.visitValue(terminal.id, terminal.test, state);
+        this.visitPlace(terminal.id, terminal.test, state);
         this.visitBlock(terminal.consequent, state);
         if (terminal.alternate !== null) {
           this.visitBlock(terminal.alternate, state);
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ export class ReactiveFunctionVisitor<TState = void> {
         break;
       }
       case "switch": {
-        this.visitValue(terminal.id, terminal.test, state);
+        this.visitPlace(terminal.id, terminal.test, state);
         for (const case_ of terminal.cases) {
           if (case_.test !== null) {
             this.visitPlace(terminal.id, case_.test, state);
diff --git a/compiler/forget/src/SSA/LeaveSSA.ts b/compiler/forget/src/SSA/LeaveSSA.ts
index 08087d26d6..1104ca6007 100644
--- a/compiler/forget/src/SSA/LeaveSSA.ts
+++ b/compiler/forget/src/SSA/LeaveSSA.ts
@@ -240,9 +240,13 @@ export function leaveSSA(fn: HIRFunction): void {
           value:
             initOperand !== null
               ? {
-                  kind: "Identifier",
-                  identifier: initOperand,
-                  effect: Effect.Read,
+                  kind: "LoadLocal",
+                  place: {
+                    kind: "Identifier",
+                    identifier: initOperand,
+                    effect: Effect.Read,
+                    loc: GeneratedSource,
+                  },
                   loc: GeneratedSource,
                 }
               : {
diff --git a/compiler/forget/src/TypeInference/InferTypes.ts b/compiler/forget/src/TypeInference/InferTypes.ts
index 71aa66994a..d7670911dc 100644
--- a/compiler/forget/src/TypeInference/InferTypes.ts
+++ b/compiler/forget/src/TypeInference/InferTypes.ts
@@ -107,8 +107,8 @@ function* generateInstructionTypes(
       break;
     }
 
-    case "Identifier": {
-      yield equation(left, value.identifier.type);
+    case "LoadLocal": {
+      yield equation(left, value.place.identifier.type);
       break;
     }
 
diff --git a/compiler/forget/src/__tests__/fixtures/hir/assignment-in-nested-if.expect.md b/compiler/forget/src/__tests__/fixtures/hir/assignment-in-nested-if.expect.md
index 5ee3cdac92..4f1f37ae5c 100644
--- a/compiler/forget/src/__tests__/fixtures/hir/assignment-in-nested-if.expect.md
+++ b/compiler/forget/src/__tests__/fixtures/hir/assignment-in-nested-if.expect.md
@@ -24,14 +24,12 @@ function useBar(props) {
   let z = undefined;
   if (props.a) {
     if (props.b) {
-      let t0;
       if ($[0] === Symbol.for("react.memo_cache_sentinel")) {
-        t0 = baz();
-        $[0] = t0;
+        z = baz();
+        $[0] = z;
       } else {
-        t0 = $[0];
+        z = $[0];
       }
-      z = t0;
     }
   }
   return z;
diff --git a/compiler/forget/src/__tests__/fixtures/hir/capturing-function-within-block.expect.md b/compiler/forget/src/__tests__/fixtures/hir/capturing-function-within-block.expect.md
index d60e6670e9..ebdfd83a0e 100644
--- a/compiler/forget/src/__tests__/fixtures/hir/capturing-function-within-block.expect.md
+++ b/compiler/forget/src/__tests__/fixtures/hir/capturing-function-within-block.expect.md
@@ -30,17 +30,16 @@ function component(a) {
     z = $[1];
   }
   const c_2 = $[2] !== z;
-  let t0;
+  let x;
   if (c_2) {
-    t0 = function () {
+    x = function () {
       z;
     };
     $[2] = z;
-    $[3] = t0;
+    $[3] = x;
   } else {
-    t0 = $[3];
+    x = $[3];
   }
-  const x = t0;
   return x;
 }
 
diff --git a/compiler/forget/src/__tests__/fixtures/hir/hooks-freeze-possibly-mutable-arguments.expect.md b/compiler/forget/src/__tests__/fixtures/hir/hooks-freeze-possibly-mutable-arguments.expect.md
index 77dbdb1337..feec1ee910 100644
--- a/compiler/forget/src/__tests__/fixtures/hir/hooks-freeze-possibly-mutable-arguments.expect.md
+++ b/compiler/forget/src/__tests__/fixtures/hir/hooks-freeze-possibly-mutable-arguments.expect.md
@@ -33,14 +33,12 @@ function Component(props) {
   if (cond) {
     a = x;
   } else {
-    let t0;
     if ($[0] === Symbol.for("react.memo_cache_sentinel")) {
-      t0 = [];
-      $[0] = t0;
+      a = [];
+      $[0] = a;
     } else {
-      t0 = $[0];
+      a = $[0];
     }
-    a = t0;
   }
 
   useFreeze(a);
diff --git a/compiler/forget/src/__tests__/fixtures/hir/obj-literal-cached-in-if-else.expect.md b/compiler/forget/src/__tests__/fixtures/hir/obj-literal-cached-in-if-else.expect.md
index 9a1877dcd6..c552f392d3 100644
--- a/compiler/forget/src/__tests__/fixtures/hir/obj-literal-cached-in-if-else.expect.md
+++ b/compiler/forget/src/__tests__/fixtures/hir/obj-literal-cached-in-if-else.expect.md
@@ -23,26 +23,22 @@ function foo(a, b, c, d) {
   let x = undefined;
   if (someVal) {
     const c_0 = $[0] !== b;
-    let t0;
     if (c_0) {
-      t0 = { b: b };
+      x = { b: b };
       $[0] = b;
-      $[1] = t0;
+      $[1] = x;
     } else {
-      t0 = $[1];
+      x = $[1];
     }
-    x = t0;
   } else {
     const c_2 = $[2] !== c;
-    let t1;
     if (c_2) {
-      t1 = { c: c };
+      x = { c: c };
       $[2] = c;
-      $[3] = t1;
+      $[3] = x;
     } else {
-      t1 = $[3];
+      x = $[3];
     }
-    x = t1;
   }
   return x;
 }
diff --git a/compiler/forget/src/__tests__/fixtures/hir/reassignment-conditional.expect.md b/compiler/forget/src/__tests__/fixtures/hir/reassignment-conditional.expect.md
index c7552085ba..e9514dd4a5 100644
--- a/compiler/forget/src/__tests__/fixtures/hir/reassignment-conditional.expect.md
+++ b/compiler/forget/src/__tests__/fixtures/hir/reassignment-conditional.expect.md
@@ -36,29 +36,27 @@ function Component(props) {
   }
   const y = x;
   if (props.p1) {
-    let t0;
     if ($[2] === Symbol.for("react.memo_cache_sentinel")) {
-      t0 = [];
-      $[2] = t0;
+      x = [];
+      $[2] = x;
     } else {
-      t0 = $[2];
+      x = $[2];
     }
-    x = t0;
   }
 
   y.push(props.p2);
   const c_3 = $[3] !== x;
   const c_4 = $[4] !== y;
-  let t1;
+  let t0;
   if (c_3 || c_4) {
-    t1 = <Component x={x} y={y}></Component>;
+    t0 = <Component x={x} y={y}></Component>;
     $[3] = x;
     $[4] = y;
-    $[5] = t1;
+    $[5] = t0;
   } else {
-    t1 = $[5];
+    t0 = $[5];
   }
-  return t1;
+  return t0;
 }
 
 ```
diff --git a/compiler/forget/src/__tests__/fixtures/hir/reassignment.expect.md b/compiler/forget/src/__tests__/fixtures/hir/reassignment.expect.md
index 0b3212b74d..f3d722749e 100644
--- a/compiler/forget/src/__tests__/fixtures/hir/reassignment.expect.md
+++ b/compiler/forget/src/__tests__/fixtures/hir/reassignment.expect.md
@@ -30,14 +30,12 @@ function Component(props) {
     x = [];
     x.push(props.p0);
     y = x;
-    let t0;
     if ($[4] === Symbol.for("react.memo_cache_sentinel")) {
-      t0 = [];
-      $[4] = t0;
+      x = [];
+      $[4] = x;
     } else {
-      t0 = $[4];
+      x = $[4];
     }
-    x = t0;
 
     y.push(props.p1);
     $[0] = props.p0;
@@ -50,16 +48,16 @@ function Component(props) {
   }
   const c_5 = $[5] !== x;
   const c_6 = $[6] !== y;
-  let t1;
+  let t0;
   if (c_5 || c_6) {
-    t1 = <Component x={x} y={y}></Component>;
+    t0 = <Component x={x} y={y}></Component>;
     $[5] = x;
     $[6] = y;
-    $[7] = t1;
+    $[7] = t0;
   } else {
-    t1 = $[7];
+    t0 = $[7];
   }
-  return t1;
+  return t0;
 }
 
 ```
diff --git a/compiler/forget/src/__tests__/fixtures/hir/switch-non-final-default.expect.md b/compiler/forget/src/__tests__/fixtures/hir/switch-non-final-default.expect.md
index efe6294bf7..edc2f43429 100644
--- a/compiler/forget/src/__tests__/fixtures/hir/switch-non-final-default.expect.md
+++ b/compiler/forget/src/__tests__/fixtures/hir/switch-non-final-default.expect.md
@@ -45,14 +45,12 @@ function Component(props) {
       }
       case true: {
         x.push(props.p2);
-        let t0;
         if ($[3] === Symbol.for("react.memo_cache_sentinel")) {
-          t0 = [];
-          $[3] = t0;
+          y = [];
+          $[3] = y;
         } else {
-          t0 = $[3];
+          y = $[3];
         }
-        y = t0;
         break bb1;
       }
       default: {
@@ -81,16 +79,16 @@ function Component(props) {
   y.push(props.p4);
   const c_6 = $[6] !== y;
   const c_7 = $[7] !== child;
-  let t1;
+  let t0;
   if (c_6 || c_7) {
-    t1 = <Component data={y}>{child}</Component>;
+    t0 = <Component data={y}>{child}</Component>;
     $[6] = y;
     $[7] = child;
-    $[8] = t1;
+    $[8] = t0;
   } else {
-    t1 = $[8];
+    t0 = $[8];
   }
-  return t1;
+  return t0;
 }
 
 ```