diff --git a/tests/compiler/std/pointer.optimized.wat b/tests/compiler/std/pointer.optimized.wat
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6389c205
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/compiler/std/pointer.optimized.wat
@@ -0,0 +1,319 @@
+(module
+ (type $iii (func (param i32 i32) (result i32)))
+ (type $iv (func (param i32)))
+ (type $ii (func (param i32) (result i32)))
+ (type $iiiiv (func (param i32 i32 i32 i32)))
+ (type $v (func))
+ (import "env" "abort" (func $~lib/env/abort (param i32 i32 i32 i32)))
+ (global $~argc (mut i32) (i32.const 0))
+ (global $std/pointer/one (mut i32) (i32.const 0))
+ (global $std/pointer/two (mut i32) (i32.const 0))
+ (global $std/pointer/add (mut i32) (i32.const 0))
+ (global $std/pointer/sub (mut i32) (i32.const 0))
+ (memory $0 1)
+ (data (i32.const 8) "\0e\00\00\00s\00t\00d\00/\00p\00o\00i\00n\00t\00e\00r\00.\00t\00s")
+ (export "_setargc" (func $~setargc))
+ (export "Pointer<Entry>#constructor" (func $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#constructor|trampoline))
+ (export "Pointer<Entry>#get:offset" (func $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#get:offset))
+ (export "Pointer<Entry>#get:value" (func $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#get:offset))
+ (export "memory" (memory $0))
+ (start $start)
+ (func $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#constructor (; 1 ;) (type $iii) (param $0 i32) (param $1 i32) (result i32)
+  (get_local $1)
+ )
+ (func $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#constructor|trampoline (; 2 ;) (type $iii) (param $0 i32) (param $1 i32) (result i32)
+  (block $1of1
+   (block $0of1
+    (block $oob
+     (br_table $0of1 $1of1 $oob
+      (get_global $~argc)
+     )
+    )
+    (unreachable)
+   )
+   (set_local $1
+    (i32.const 0)
+   )
+  )
+  (call $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#constructor
+   (get_local $0)
+   (get_local $1)
+  )
+ )
+ (func $~setargc (; 3 ;) (type $iv) (param $0 i32)
+  (set_global $~argc
+   (get_local $0)
+  )
+ )
+ (func $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#get:offset (; 4 ;) (type $ii) (param $0 i32) (result i32)
+  (get_local $0)
+ )
+ (func $start (; 5 ;) (type $v)
+  (set_global $std/pointer/one
+   (call $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#constructor
+    (i32.const 0)
+    (i32.const 8)
+   )
+  )
+  (set_global $std/pointer/two
+   (call $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#constructor
+    (i32.const 0)
+    (i32.const 24)
+   )
+  )
+  (if
+   (i32.ne
+    (call $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#get:offset
+     (get_global $std/pointer/one)
+    )
+    (i32.const 8)
+   )
+   (block
+    (call $~lib/env/abort
+     (i32.const 0)
+     (i32.const 8)
+     (i32.const 54)
+     (i32.const 0)
+    )
+    (unreachable)
+   )
+  )
+  (if
+   (i32.ne
+    (call $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#get:offset
+     (get_global $std/pointer/two)
+    )
+    (i32.const 24)
+   )
+   (block
+    (call $~lib/env/abort
+     (i32.const 0)
+     (i32.const 8)
+     (i32.const 55)
+     (i32.const 0)
+    )
+    (unreachable)
+   )
+  )
+  (i32.store
+   (call $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#get:offset
+    (get_global $std/pointer/one)
+   )
+   (i32.const 1)
+  )
+  (i32.store offset=4
+   (call $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#get:offset
+    (get_global $std/pointer/one)
+   )
+   (i32.const 2)
+  )
+  (if
+   (i32.ne
+    (i32.load
+     (call $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#get:offset
+      (get_global $std/pointer/one)
+     )
+    )
+    (i32.const 1)
+   )
+   (block
+    (call $~lib/env/abort
+     (i32.const 0)
+     (i32.const 8)
+     (i32.const 59)
+     (i32.const 0)
+    )
+    (unreachable)
+   )
+  )
+  (if
+   (i32.ne
+    (i32.load offset=4
+     (call $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#get:offset
+      (get_global $std/pointer/one)
+     )
+    )
+    (i32.const 2)
+   )
+   (block
+    (call $~lib/env/abort
+     (i32.const 0)
+     (i32.const 8)
+     (i32.const 60)
+     (i32.const 0)
+    )
+    (unreachable)
+   )
+  )
+  (set_global $std/pointer/add
+   (i32.add
+    (get_global $std/pointer/one)
+    (get_global $std/pointer/two)
+   )
+  )
+  (if
+   (i32.ne
+    (call $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#get:offset
+     (get_global $std/pointer/add)
+    )
+    (i32.const 32)
+   )
+   (block
+    (call $~lib/env/abort
+     (i32.const 0)
+     (i32.const 8)
+     (i32.const 63)
+     (i32.const 0)
+    )
+    (unreachable)
+   )
+  )
+  (set_global $std/pointer/sub
+   (i32.sub
+    (get_global $std/pointer/two)
+    (get_global $std/pointer/one)
+   )
+  )
+  (if
+   (i32.ne
+    (call $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#get:offset
+     (get_global $std/pointer/sub)
+    )
+    (i32.const 16)
+   )
+   (block
+    (call $~lib/env/abort
+     (i32.const 0)
+     (i32.const 8)
+     (i32.const 66)
+     (i32.const 0)
+    )
+    (unreachable)
+   )
+  )
+  (if
+   (i32.ne
+    (call $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#get:offset
+     (get_global $std/pointer/one)
+    )
+    (i32.const 8)
+   )
+   (block
+    (call $~lib/env/abort
+     (i32.const 0)
+     (i32.const 8)
+     (i32.const 68)
+     (i32.const 0)
+    )
+    (unreachable)
+   )
+  )
+  (set_global $std/pointer/one
+   (i32.add
+    (get_global $std/pointer/one)
+    (i32.const 8)
+   )
+  )
+  (if
+   (i32.ne
+    (call $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#get:offset
+     (get_global $std/pointer/one)
+    )
+    (i32.const 16)
+   )
+   (block
+    (call $~lib/env/abort
+     (i32.const 0)
+     (i32.const 8)
+     (i32.const 70)
+     (i32.const 0)
+    )
+    (unreachable)
+   )
+  )
+  (if
+   (i32.ne
+    (call $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#get:offset
+     (get_global $std/pointer/two)
+    )
+    (i32.const 24)
+   )
+   (block
+    (call $~lib/env/abort
+     (i32.const 0)
+     (i32.const 8)
+     (i32.const 72)
+     (i32.const 0)
+    )
+    (unreachable)
+   )
+  )
+  (set_global $std/pointer/two
+   (i32.sub
+    (get_global $std/pointer/two)
+    (i32.const 8)
+   )
+  )
+  (set_global $std/pointer/two
+   (i32.sub
+    (get_global $std/pointer/two)
+    (i32.const 8)
+   )
+  )
+  (if
+   (i32.ne
+    (call $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#get:offset
+     (get_global $std/pointer/two)
+    )
+    (i32.const 8)
+   )
+   (block
+    (call $~lib/env/abort
+     (i32.const 0)
+     (i32.const 8)
+     (i32.const 75)
+     (i32.const 0)
+    )
+    (unreachable)
+   )
+  )
+  (if
+   (i32.ne
+    (i32.load
+     (call $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#get:offset
+      (get_global $std/pointer/two)
+     )
+    )
+    (i32.const 1)
+   )
+   (block
+    (call $~lib/env/abort
+     (i32.const 0)
+     (i32.const 8)
+     (i32.const 76)
+     (i32.const 0)
+    )
+    (unreachable)
+   )
+  )
+  (if
+   (i32.ne
+    (i32.load offset=4
+     (call $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#get:offset
+      (get_global $std/pointer/two)
+     )
+    )
+    (i32.const 2)
+   )
+   (block
+    (call $~lib/env/abort
+     (i32.const 0)
+     (i32.const 8)
+     (i32.const 77)
+     (i32.const 0)
+    )
+    (unreachable)
+   )
+  )
+ )
+)
diff --git a/tests/compiler/std/pointer.ts b/tests/compiler/std/pointer.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d0b95ab6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/compiler/std/pointer.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+// A pointer arithmetic experiment
+
+export class Pointer<T> {
+
+  // FIXME: does not inline, always yields a trampoline
+  @inline constructor(offset: usize = 0) {
+    return changetype<Pointer<T>>(offset);
+  }
+
+  // FIXME: does not inline
+  @inline get offset(): usize {
+    return changetype<usize>(this);
+  }
+
+  // FIXME: does not inline
+  @inline get value(): T {
+    return changetype<T>(changetype<usize>(this));
+  }
+
+  // FIXME: in general, inlining any of the following always yields a block. one could argue that
+  // this helps debuggability, or that it is unnecessary overhead due to the simplicity of the
+  // functions. a compromise could be to inline a block consisting of a single 'return' as is,
+  // where possible.
+
+  @inline @operator("+") add(other: Pointer<T>): Pointer<T> {
+    return changetype<Pointer<T>>(changetype<usize>(this) + changetype<usize>(other));
+  }
+
+  @inline @operator("-") sub(other: Pointer<T>): Pointer<T> {
+    return changetype<Pointer<T>>(changetype<usize>(this) - changetype<usize>(other));
+  }
+
+  @inline @operator.prefix("++") inc(): Pointer<T> {
+    // FIXME: this should take alignment into account, but then would require a new builtin to
+    // determine the minimal alignment of a struct by evaluating its field layout.
+    const size = isReference<T>() ? offsetof<T>() : sizeof<T>();
+    return changetype<Pointer<T>>(changetype<usize>(this) + size);
+  }
+
+  @inline @operator.prefix("--") dec(): Pointer<T> {
+    const size = isReference<T>() ? offsetof<T>() : sizeof<T>();
+    return changetype<Pointer<T>>(changetype<usize>(this) - size);
+  }
+}
+
+@unmanaged
+class Entry {
+  key: i32;
+  val: i32;
+}
+
+var one = new Pointer<Entry>(8);
+var two = new Pointer<Entry>(24);
+assert(one.offset == 8);
+assert(two.offset == 24);
+
+one.value.key = 1;
+one.value.val = 2;
+assert(one.value.key == 1);
+assert(one.value.val == 2);
+
+var add = one + two;
+assert(add.offset == 32);
+
+var sub = two - one;
+assert(sub.offset == 16);
+
+assert(one.offset == 8);
+++one; // FIXME: assigning to a var yields an 'auto to void' error
+assert(one.offset == 16);
+
+assert(two.offset == 24);
+--two;
+--two;
+assert(two.offset == 8);
+assert(two.value.key == 1);
+assert(two.value.val == 2);
diff --git a/tests/compiler/std/pointer.untouched.wat b/tests/compiler/std/pointer.untouched.wat
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1bd577d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/compiler/std/pointer.untouched.wat
@@ -0,0 +1,396 @@
+(module
+ (type $iii (func (param i32 i32) (result i32)))
+ (type $iv (func (param i32)))
+ (type $ii (func (param i32) (result i32)))
+ (type $iiiiv (func (param i32 i32 i32 i32)))
+ (type $v (func))
+ (import "env" "abort" (func $~lib/env/abort (param i32 i32 i32 i32)))
+ (global $~argc (mut i32) (i32.const 0))
+ (global $std/pointer/one (mut i32) (i32.const 0))
+ (global $std/pointer/two (mut i32) (i32.const 0))
+ (global $std/pointer/add (mut i32) (i32.const 0))
+ (global $std/pointer/sub (mut i32) (i32.const 0))
+ (global $HEAP_BASE i32 (i32.const 40))
+ (memory $0 1)
+ (data (i32.const 8) "\0e\00\00\00s\00t\00d\00/\00p\00o\00i\00n\00t\00e\00r\00.\00t\00s\00")
+ (export "_setargc" (func $~setargc))
+ (export "Pointer<Entry>#constructor" (func $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#constructor|trampoline))
+ (export "Pointer<Entry>#get:offset" (func $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#get:offset))
+ (export "Pointer<Entry>#get:value" (func $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#get:value))
+ (export "memory" (memory $0))
+ (start $start)
+ (func $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#constructor (; 1 ;) (type $iii) (param $0 i32) (param $1 i32) (result i32)
+  (return
+   (get_local $1)
+  )
+ )
+ (func $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#constructor|trampoline (; 2 ;) (type $iii) (param $0 i32) (param $1 i32) (result i32)
+  (block $1of1
+   (block $0of1
+    (block $oob
+     (br_table $0of1 $1of1 $oob
+      (get_global $~argc)
+     )
+    )
+    (unreachable)
+   )
+   (set_local $1
+    (i32.const 0)
+   )
+  )
+  (call $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#constructor
+   (get_local $0)
+   (get_local $1)
+  )
+ )
+ (func $~setargc (; 3 ;) (type $iv) (param $0 i32)
+  (set_global $~argc
+   (get_local $0)
+  )
+ )
+ (func $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#get:offset (; 4 ;) (type $ii) (param $0 i32) (result i32)
+  (return
+   (get_local $0)
+  )
+ )
+ (func $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#get:value (; 5 ;) (type $ii) (param $0 i32) (result i32)
+  (return
+   (get_local $0)
+  )
+ )
+ (func $start (; 6 ;) (type $v)
+  (local $0 i32)
+  (local $1 i32)
+  (set_global $std/pointer/one
+   (call $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#constructor
+    (i32.const 0)
+    (i32.const 8)
+   )
+  )
+  (set_global $std/pointer/two
+   (call $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#constructor
+    (i32.const 0)
+    (i32.const 24)
+   )
+  )
+  (if
+   (i32.eqz
+    (i32.eq
+     (call $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#get:offset
+      (get_global $std/pointer/one)
+     )
+     (i32.const 8)
+    )
+   )
+   (block
+    (call $~lib/env/abort
+     (i32.const 0)
+     (i32.const 8)
+     (i32.const 54)
+     (i32.const 0)
+    )
+    (unreachable)
+   )
+  )
+  (if
+   (i32.eqz
+    (i32.eq
+     (call $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#get:offset
+      (get_global $std/pointer/two)
+     )
+     (i32.const 24)
+    )
+   )
+   (block
+    (call $~lib/env/abort
+     (i32.const 0)
+     (i32.const 8)
+     (i32.const 55)
+     (i32.const 0)
+    )
+    (unreachable)
+   )
+  )
+  (i32.store
+   (call $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#get:value
+    (get_global $std/pointer/one)
+   )
+   (i32.const 1)
+  )
+  (i32.store offset=4
+   (call $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#get:value
+    (get_global $std/pointer/one)
+   )
+   (i32.const 2)
+  )
+  (if
+   (i32.eqz
+    (i32.eq
+     (i32.load
+      (call $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#get:value
+       (get_global $std/pointer/one)
+      )
+     )
+     (i32.const 1)
+    )
+   )
+   (block
+    (call $~lib/env/abort
+     (i32.const 0)
+     (i32.const 8)
+     (i32.const 59)
+     (i32.const 0)
+    )
+    (unreachable)
+   )
+  )
+  (if
+   (i32.eqz
+    (i32.eq
+     (i32.load offset=4
+      (call $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#get:value
+       (get_global $std/pointer/one)
+      )
+     )
+     (i32.const 2)
+    )
+   )
+   (block
+    (call $~lib/env/abort
+     (i32.const 0)
+     (i32.const 8)
+     (i32.const 60)
+     (i32.const 0)
+    )
+    (unreachable)
+   )
+  )
+  (set_global $std/pointer/add
+   (block $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#add|inlined.0 (result i32)
+    (set_local $0
+     (get_global $std/pointer/one)
+    )
+    (set_local $1
+     (get_global $std/pointer/two)
+    )
+    (br $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#add|inlined.0
+     (i32.add
+      (get_local $0)
+      (get_local $1)
+     )
+    )
+   )
+  )
+  (if
+   (i32.eqz
+    (i32.eq
+     (call $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#get:offset
+      (get_global $std/pointer/add)
+     )
+     (i32.const 32)
+    )
+   )
+   (block
+    (call $~lib/env/abort
+     (i32.const 0)
+     (i32.const 8)
+     (i32.const 63)
+     (i32.const 0)
+    )
+    (unreachable)
+   )
+  )
+  (set_global $std/pointer/sub
+   (block $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#sub|inlined.0 (result i32)
+    (set_local $1
+     (get_global $std/pointer/two)
+    )
+    (set_local $0
+     (get_global $std/pointer/one)
+    )
+    (br $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#sub|inlined.0
+     (i32.sub
+      (get_local $1)
+      (get_local $0)
+     )
+    )
+   )
+  )
+  (if
+   (i32.eqz
+    (i32.eq
+     (call $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#get:offset
+      (get_global $std/pointer/sub)
+     )
+     (i32.const 16)
+    )
+   )
+   (block
+    (call $~lib/env/abort
+     (i32.const 0)
+     (i32.const 8)
+     (i32.const 66)
+     (i32.const 0)
+    )
+    (unreachable)
+   )
+  )
+  (if
+   (i32.eqz
+    (i32.eq
+     (call $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#get:offset
+      (get_global $std/pointer/one)
+     )
+     (i32.const 8)
+    )
+   )
+   (block
+    (call $~lib/env/abort
+     (i32.const 0)
+     (i32.const 8)
+     (i32.const 68)
+     (i32.const 0)
+    )
+    (unreachable)
+   )
+  )
+  (set_global $std/pointer/one
+   (block $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#inc|inlined.0 (result i32)
+    (set_local $0
+     (get_global $std/pointer/one)
+    )
+    (br $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#inc|inlined.0
+     (i32.add
+      (get_local $0)
+      (i32.const 8)
+     )
+    )
+   )
+  )
+  (if
+   (i32.eqz
+    (i32.eq
+     (call $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#get:offset
+      (get_global $std/pointer/one)
+     )
+     (i32.const 16)
+    )
+   )
+   (block
+    (call $~lib/env/abort
+     (i32.const 0)
+     (i32.const 8)
+     (i32.const 70)
+     (i32.const 0)
+    )
+    (unreachable)
+   )
+  )
+  (if
+   (i32.eqz
+    (i32.eq
+     (call $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#get:offset
+      (get_global $std/pointer/two)
+     )
+     (i32.const 24)
+    )
+   )
+   (block
+    (call $~lib/env/abort
+     (i32.const 0)
+     (i32.const 8)
+     (i32.const 72)
+     (i32.const 0)
+    )
+    (unreachable)
+   )
+  )
+  (set_global $std/pointer/two
+   (block $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#dec|inlined.0 (result i32)
+    (set_local $0
+     (get_global $std/pointer/two)
+    )
+    (br $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#dec|inlined.0
+     (i32.sub
+      (get_local $0)
+      (i32.const 8)
+     )
+    )
+   )
+  )
+  (set_global $std/pointer/two
+   (block $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#dec|inlined.1 (result i32)
+    (set_local $0
+     (get_global $std/pointer/two)
+    )
+    (br $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#dec|inlined.1
+     (i32.sub
+      (get_local $0)
+      (i32.const 8)
+     )
+    )
+   )
+  )
+  (if
+   (i32.eqz
+    (i32.eq
+     (call $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#get:offset
+      (get_global $std/pointer/two)
+     )
+     (i32.const 8)
+    )
+   )
+   (block
+    (call $~lib/env/abort
+     (i32.const 0)
+     (i32.const 8)
+     (i32.const 75)
+     (i32.const 0)
+    )
+    (unreachable)
+   )
+  )
+  (if
+   (i32.eqz
+    (i32.eq
+     (i32.load
+      (call $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#get:value
+       (get_global $std/pointer/two)
+      )
+     )
+     (i32.const 1)
+    )
+   )
+   (block
+    (call $~lib/env/abort
+     (i32.const 0)
+     (i32.const 8)
+     (i32.const 76)
+     (i32.const 0)
+    )
+    (unreachable)
+   )
+  )
+  (if
+   (i32.eqz
+    (i32.eq
+     (i32.load offset=4
+      (call $std/pointer/Pointer<Entry>#get:value
+       (get_global $std/pointer/two)
+      )
+     )
+     (i32.const 2)
+    )
+   )
+   (block
+    (call $~lib/env/abort
+     (i32.const 0)
+     (i32.const 8)
+     (i32.const 77)
+     (i32.const 0)
+    )
+    (unreachable)
+   )
+  )
+ )
+)