diff --git a/core_ast.cpp b/core_ast.cpp
index 5bff871..1af02d5 100644
--- a/core_ast.cpp
+++ b/core_ast.cpp
@@ -177,6 +177,13 @@ ast_return(Token *pos, Ast_Expr *expr) {
     return result;
 }
 
+CORE_Static Ast_Defer *
+ast_defer(Token *pos, Ast_Scope *scope) {
+    Ast_Defer *result = ast_new(Ast_Defer, AST_DEFER, pos, AST_STMT);
+    result->scope = scope;
+    return result;
+}
+
 CORE_Static Ast_Goto *
 ast_goto(Token *pos, Intern_String label) {
     Ast_Goto *result = ast_new(Ast_Goto, AST_GOTO, pos, AST_STMT);
diff --git a/core_compiler.cpp b/core_compiler.cpp
index 4366d84..368b3b8 100644
--- a/core_compiler.cpp
+++ b/core_compiler.cpp
@@ -67,8 +67,9 @@ for i in meta.token_simple_expr:
     pctx->keyword_for = pctx->intern("for"_s);
     pctx->keyword_enum = pctx->intern("enum"_s);
     pctx->keyword_goto = pctx->intern("goto"_s);
+    pctx->keyword_defer = pctx->intern("defer"_s);
     pctx->interns.first_keyword = pctx->keyword_struct.str;
-    pctx->interns.last_keyword = pctx->keyword_goto.str;
+    pctx->interns.last_keyword = pctx->keyword_defer.str;
     pctx->intern_typeof = pctx->intern("typeof"_s);
     pctx->intern_sizeof = pctx->intern("sizeof"_s);
     pctx->intern_len = pctx->intern("Len"_s);
diff --git a/core_compiler.h b/core_compiler.h
index 0244bc2..2a69a3a 100644
--- a/core_compiler.h
+++ b/core_compiler.h
@@ -108,6 +108,7 @@ for i in meta.interns: print(f'Intern_String intern_{i.lower()};')
     Intern_String keyword_for;
     Intern_String keyword_enum;
     Intern_String keyword_goto;
+    Intern_String keyword_defer;
     Intern_String intern_typeof;
     Intern_String intern_sizeof;
     Intern_String intern_len;
diff --git a/core_compiler_interface.hpp b/core_compiler_interface.hpp
index 7d6840f..7eec953 100644
--- a/core_compiler_interface.hpp
+++ b/core_compiler_interface.hpp
@@ -334,6 +334,7 @@ enum Ast_Kind : uint32_t {
     AST_TYPE_OF,
     AST_VARGS_LAMBDA_PARAM,
 
+    AST_DEFER,
     AST_LABEL,
     AST_GOTO,
     AST_SWITCH,
@@ -535,6 +536,10 @@ struct Ast_Goto : Ast {
     Intern_String label;
 };
 
+struct Ast_Defer : Ast {
+    Ast_Scope *scope;
+};
+
 struct Ast_For : Ast {
     Ast_Expr *init;
     Ast_Expr *cond;
@@ -636,7 +641,7 @@ struct Ast_Decl : Ast {
     Array<Ast_Type *> polymorph_resolved_parameter_types;
     Array<Ast_Decl *> polymorph_parameters;
     Array<Ast_Decl *> polymorphs; // instantiated polymorphs
-    
+
     Ast_Scope *scope;
     Ast_Expr *typespec;
     union {
diff --git a/core_parsing.cpp b/core_parsing.cpp
index 1f48036..a0aa4c2 100644
--- a/core_parsing.cpp
+++ b/core_parsing.cpp
@@ -271,218 +271,228 @@ parse_optional_type() {
     return result;
 }
 
-CORE_Static Ast_Scope *
-parse_stmt_scope(Ast_Scope *scope_defined_outside = 0) {
-    Ast_Scope *scope = scope_defined_outside;
+CORE_Static Ast_Scope *parse_stmt_scope(Ast_Scope *scope_defined_outside = 0, bool empty_scope_is_error = true);
 
-    if (token_expect(OPEN_SCOPE)) { // @todo: Fix error message here, it doesn't show proper token context
-        Token *token_block = token_get();
+CORE_Static Ast *
+parse_stmt() {
+    Token *token = token_get();
+    Scoped_Arena scratch(pctx->scratch);
 
-        Scoped_Arena scratch(pctx->scratch);
-        if (!scope_defined_outside) scope = begin_stmt_scope(scratch.arena, token_block);
+    if (token_match_keyword(pctx->keyword_return)) {
+        Ast_Expr *expr = 0;
+        if (!token_is_scope()) expr = parse_expr();
+        return ast_return(token, expr);
+    }
+
+    else if (token_match_keyword(pctx->keyword_continue)) {
+        return ast_continue(token);
+    }
+
+    else if (token_match_keyword(pctx->intern_compiler_breakpoint)) {
+        return ast_compiler_breakpoint(token);
+    }
+
+    else if (token_match_keyword(pctx->keyword_break)) {
+        return ast_break(token);
+    }
+
+    else if (token_match_keyword(pctx->keyword_pass)) {
+        return ast_pass(token);
+    }
+
+    else if (token_match_keyword(pctx->keyword_switch)) {
+        Ast_Switch *result = ast_new(Ast_Switch, AST_SWITCH, token, AST_STMT);
+        result->value = parse_expr();
+        result->cases = {scratch.arena};
+
+        token_expect(OPEN_SCOPE);
         do {
-            Token *token = token_get();
-
-            if (token_match_keyword(pctx->keyword_return)) {
-                Ast_Expr *expr = 0;
-                if (!token_is_scope()) expr = parse_expr();
-                scope->stmts.add(ast_return(token, expr));
+            if (token_match_keyword(pctx->keyword_default)) {
+                result->default_scope = parse_stmt_scope();
+                continue;
             }
 
-            else if (token_match_keyword(pctx->keyword_continue)) {
-                scope->stmts.add(ast_continue(token));
-            }
+            Ast_Switch_Case *switch_case = ast_new(Ast_Switch_Case, AST_SWITCH_CASE, token_get(), AST_STMT);
+            if (token_match_pound(pctx->intern("fallthrough"_s)))
+                switch_case->fallthrough = true;
 
-            else if (token_match_keyword(pctx->intern_compiler_breakpoint)) {
-                scope->stmts.add(ast_compiler_breakpoint(token));
-            }
+            switch_case->labels = {scratch.arena};
+            do {
+                switch_case->labels.add(parse_expr());
+            } while (token_match(TK_Comma));
+            switch_case->labels = switch_case->labels.tight_copy(pctx->perm);
 
-            else if (token_match_keyword(pctx->keyword_break)) {
-                scope->stmts.add(ast_break(token));
-            }
-
-            else if (token_match_keyword(pctx->keyword_pass)) {
-                scope->stmts.add(ast_pass(token));
-            }
-
-            else if (token_match_keyword(pctx->keyword_switch)) {
-                Ast_Switch *result = ast_new(Ast_Switch, AST_SWITCH, token, AST_STMT);
-                result->value = parse_expr();
-                result->cases = {scratch.arena};
-
-                token_expect(OPEN_SCOPE);
-                do {
-                    if (token_match_keyword(pctx->keyword_default)) {
-                        result->default_scope = parse_stmt_scope();
-                        continue;
-                    }
-
-                    Ast_Switch_Case *switch_case = ast_new(Ast_Switch_Case, AST_SWITCH_CASE, token_get(), AST_STMT);
-                    if (token_match_pound(pctx->intern("fallthrough"_s)))
-                        switch_case->fallthrough = true;
-
-                    switch_case->labels = {scratch.arena};
-                    do {
-                        switch_case->labels.add(parse_expr());
-                    } while (token_match(TK_Comma));
-                    switch_case->labels = switch_case->labels.tight_copy(pctx->perm);
-
-                    switch_case->scope = parse_stmt_scope();
-                    result->cases.add(switch_case);
-                } while (token_match(SAME_SCOPE));
-                token_expect(CLOSE_SCOPE);
-                result->cases = result->cases.tight_copy(pctx->perm);
-
-                scope->stmts.add(result);
-            }
-
-            else if (token_match_keyword(pctx->keyword_assert)) {
-                token_expect(TK_OpenParen);
-                Ast_Expr *expr = parse_expr();
-                Intern_String message = {};
-                if (token_match(TK_Comma)) {
-                    Token *t = token_expect(TK_StringLit);
-                    message = t->intern_val;
-                }
-                token_expect(TK_CloseParen);
-                scope->stmts.add(ast_runtime_assert(token, expr, message));
-            }
-
-            else if (token_match_pound(pctx->keyword_assert)) {
-                token_expect(TK_OpenParen);
-                Ast_Expr *expr = parse_expr();
-                Intern_String message = {};
-                if (token_match(TK_Comma)) {
-                    Token *t = token_expect(TK_StringLit);
-                    message = t->intern_val;
-                }
-                token_expect(TK_CloseParen);
-                scope->stmts.add(ast_constant_assert(token, expr, message));
-            }
-
-            else if (token_match_keyword(pctx->keyword_for)) {
-                Ast_Scope *for_scope = begin_stmt_scope(scratch.arena, token_get());
-                Ast_Expr *init = 0;
-                Ast_Expr *cond = 0;
-                Ast_Expr *iter = 0;
-
-                if (!token_is(OPEN_SCOPE)) {
-                    if (!token_is(TK_Comma)) {
-                        Ast_Expr *expr_first = parse_expr();
-                        init = parse_init_stmt(expr_first);
-                    }
-
-                    if (token_match(TK_Comma)) {
-                        if (!token_is(TK_Comma)) cond = parse_expr();
-                        if (token_match(TK_Comma)) {
-                            iter = parse_expr();
-                            iter = parse_init_stmt(iter);
-                        }
-                    }
-                }
-
-                parse_stmt_scope(for_scope);
-                finalize_stmt_scope(for_scope);
-                scope->stmts.add(ast_for(token, init, cond, iter, for_scope));
-            }
-
-            else if (token_match_keyword(pctx->keyword_if)) {
-                Array<Ast_If_Node *> if_nodes = {scratch.arena};
-                Ast_Expr *expr = parse_expr();
-                Ast_Expr *init_val = parse_init_stmt(expr);
-                if (init_val != expr) {
-                    if (token_match(TK_Comma)) expr = parse_expr();
-                    else expr = 0;
-                }
-                if (init_val == expr) init_val = 0;
-
-                Ast_Scope *if_block = parse_stmt_scope();
-                Ast_If_Node *if_node = ast_if_node(token, init_val, expr, if_block);
-                if_nodes.add(if_node);
-
-                while (token_is(SAME_SCOPE) && (token_is_keyword(pctx->keyword_elif, 1) || (token_is_keyword(pctx->keyword_else, 1)))) {
-                    token_next();
-                    token = token_get();
-                    if (token_match_keyword(pctx->keyword_elif)) {
-                        assert(token->intern_val == pctx->keyword_elif);
-                        Ast_Expr *expr = parse_expr();
-                        Ast_Scope *else_if_block = parse_stmt_scope();
-                        Ast_If_Node *if_node = ast_if_node(token, 0, expr, else_if_block);
-                        if_nodes.add(if_node);
-                    }
-                    else {
-                        token_match_keyword(pctx->keyword_else);
-                        assert(token->intern_val == pctx->keyword_else);
-                        Ast_Scope *else_block = parse_stmt_scope();
-                        Ast_If_Node *if_node = ast_if_node(token, 0, 0, else_block);
-                        if_nodes.add(if_node);
-                        break;
-                    }
-                }
-                Ast_If *result_if = ast_if(token, if_nodes);
-                scope->stmts.add(result_if);
-            }
-
-            else if (token_match_keyword(pctx->keyword_goto)) {
-                Token *ident = token_expect(TK_Identifier);
-                Ast_Goto *result = ast_goto(token, ident->intern_val);
-                scope->stmts.add(result);
-            }
-
-            // Label
-            else if (token_match(TK_Colon)) {
-                Token *ident = token_expect(TK_Identifier);
-                Token *enable_goto_token = token_match(TK_Colon);
-                bool enable_goto = enable_goto_token ? 1 : 0;
-                Token *breakpoint = token_match_pound(pctx->intern_compiler_breakpoint);
-
-                Ast_Scope *s = 0;
-                if (token_is(OPEN_SCOPE)) s = parse_stmt_scope();
-
-                Ast_Label *result = ast_label(token, ident->intern_val, s, enable_goto);
-                if (breakpoint) set_flag(result->flags, AST_COMPILER_BREAKPOINT);
-                scope->stmts.add(result);
-            }
-
-            // Var unpack
-            else if (token_is(TK_Identifier) && token_is(TK_Comma, 1)) {
-                Array<Ast_Decl *> decls = {scratch.arena};
-                do {
-                    Token *name = token_match(TK_Identifier);
-                    Ast_Decl *decl = ast_var(name, 0, name->intern_val, 0);
-                    decls.add(decl);
-                } while (token_match(TK_Comma));
-
-                token_expect(TK_ColonAssign);
-                Ast_Expr *expr = parse_expr();
-                Ast_Var_Unpack *vars = ast_var_unpack(token, decls, expr);
-                scope->stmts.add(vars);
-            }
-
-            // Declaration or init stmt
-            else {
-                Ast *result = parse_decl(false);
-                if (result && result->kind != AST_VAR && result->kind != AST_CONST) {
-                    compiler_error(token, "Invalid statement construct");
-                }
-                if (!result) {
-                    result = parse_expr();
-                    result = parse_init_stmt((Ast_Expr *)result);
-                }
-
-                if (result) {
-                    result->flags = set_flag(result->flags, AST_STMT);
-                    scope->stmts.add(result);
-                }
-                else {
-                    compiler_error(token, "Unexpected token [%s] while parsing statement", name(token->kind));
-                }
-            }
+            switch_case->scope = parse_stmt_scope();
+            result->cases.add(switch_case);
         } while (token_match(SAME_SCOPE));
         token_expect(CLOSE_SCOPE);
+        result->cases = result->cases.tight_copy(pctx->perm);
 
-        if (!scope_defined_outside) finalize_stmt_scope(scope);
+        return result;
     }
+
+    else if (token_match_keyword(pctx->keyword_assert)) {
+        token_expect(TK_OpenParen);
+        Ast_Expr *expr = parse_expr();
+        Intern_String message = {};
+        if (token_match(TK_Comma)) {
+            Token *t = token_expect(TK_StringLit);
+            message = t->intern_val;
+        }
+        token_expect(TK_CloseParen);
+        return ast_runtime_assert(token, expr, message);
+    }
+
+    else if (token_match_pound(pctx->keyword_assert)) {
+        token_expect(TK_OpenParen);
+        Ast_Expr *expr = parse_expr();
+        Intern_String message = {};
+        if (token_match(TK_Comma)) {
+            Token *t = token_expect(TK_StringLit);
+            message = t->intern_val;
+        }
+        token_expect(TK_CloseParen);
+        return ast_constant_assert(token, expr, message);
+    }
+
+    else if (token_match_keyword(pctx->keyword_for)) {
+        Ast_Scope *for_scope = begin_stmt_scope(scratch.arena, token_get());
+        Ast_Expr *init = 0;
+        Ast_Expr *cond = 0;
+        Ast_Expr *iter = 0;
+
+        if (!token_is(OPEN_SCOPE)) {
+            if (!token_is(TK_Comma)) {
+                Ast_Expr *expr_first = parse_expr();
+                init = parse_init_stmt(expr_first);
+            }
+
+            if (token_match(TK_Comma)) {
+                if (!token_is(TK_Comma)) cond = parse_expr();
+                if (token_match(TK_Comma)) {
+                    iter = parse_expr();
+                    iter = parse_init_stmt(iter);
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        parse_stmt_scope(for_scope);
+        finalize_stmt_scope(for_scope);
+        return ast_for(token, init, cond, iter, for_scope);
+    }
+
+    else if (token_match_keyword(pctx->keyword_if)) {
+        Array<Ast_If_Node *> if_nodes = {scratch.arena};
+        Ast_Expr *expr = parse_expr();
+        Ast_Expr *init_val = parse_init_stmt(expr);
+        if (init_val != expr) {
+            if (token_match(TK_Comma)) expr = parse_expr();
+            else expr = 0;
+        }
+        if (init_val == expr) init_val = 0;
+
+        Ast_Scope *if_block = parse_stmt_scope();
+        Ast_If_Node *if_node = ast_if_node(token, init_val, expr, if_block);
+        if_nodes.add(if_node);
+
+        while (token_is(SAME_SCOPE) && (token_is_keyword(pctx->keyword_elif, 1) || (token_is_keyword(pctx->keyword_else, 1)))) {
+            token_next();
+            token = token_get();
+            if (token_match_keyword(pctx->keyword_elif)) {
+                assert(token->intern_val == pctx->keyword_elif);
+                Ast_Expr *expr = parse_expr();
+                Ast_Scope *else_if_block = parse_stmt_scope();
+                Ast_If_Node *if_node = ast_if_node(token, 0, expr, else_if_block);
+                if_nodes.add(if_node);
+            }
+            else {
+                token_match_keyword(pctx->keyword_else);
+                assert(token->intern_val == pctx->keyword_else);
+                Ast_Scope *else_block = parse_stmt_scope();
+                Ast_If_Node *if_node = ast_if_node(token, 0, 0, else_block);
+                if_nodes.add(if_node);
+                break;
+            }
+        }
+        return ast_if(token, if_nodes);
+    }
+
+    else if (token_match_keyword(pctx->keyword_defer)) {
+        Ast_Scope *s = parse_stmt_scope();
+        return ast_defer(token, s);
+    }
+
+    else if (token_match_keyword(pctx->keyword_goto)) {
+        Token *ident = token_expect(TK_Identifier);
+        return ast_goto(token, ident->intern_val);
+    }
+
+    // Label
+    else if (token_match(TK_Colon)) {
+        Token *ident = token_expect(TK_Identifier);
+        Token *enable_goto_token = token_match(TK_Colon);
+        bool enable_goto = enable_goto_token ? 1 : 0;
+        Token *breakpoint = token_match_pound(pctx->intern_compiler_breakpoint);
+
+        Ast_Scope *s = 0;
+        if (token_is(OPEN_SCOPE)) s = parse_stmt_scope();
+
+        Ast_Label *result = ast_label(token, ident->intern_val, s, enable_goto);
+        if (breakpoint) set_flag(result->flags, AST_COMPILER_BREAKPOINT);
+        return result;
+    }
+
+    // Var unpack
+    else if (token_is(TK_Identifier) && token_is(TK_Comma, 1)) {
+        Array<Ast_Decl *> decls = {scratch.arena};
+        do {
+            Token *name = token_match(TK_Identifier);
+            Ast_Decl *decl = ast_var(name, 0, name->intern_val, 0);
+            decls.add(decl);
+        } while (token_match(TK_Comma));
+
+        token_expect(TK_ColonAssign);
+        Ast_Expr *expr = parse_expr();
+        Ast_Var_Unpack *vars = ast_var_unpack(token, decls, expr);
+        return vars;
+    }
+
+    // Declaration or init stmt
+    else {
+        Ast *result = parse_decl(false);
+        if (result && result->kind != AST_VAR && result->kind != AST_CONST) {
+            compiler_error(token, "Invalid statement construct");
+        }
+        if (!result) {
+            result = parse_expr();
+            result = parse_init_stmt((Ast_Expr *)result);
+        }
+        if (result) {
+            result->flags = set_flag(result->flags, AST_STMT);
+            return result;
+        }
+        else {
+            compiler_error(token, "Unexpected token [%s] while parsing statement", name(token->kind));
+            return 0;
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+CORE_Static Ast_Scope *
+parse_stmt_scope(Ast_Scope *scope_defined_outside, bool empty_scope_is_error) {
+    Scoped_Arena scratch(pctx->scratch);
+    Ast_Scope *scope = scope_defined_outside;
+    if (!scope_defined_outside) scope = begin_stmt_scope(scratch.arena, token_get());
+
+    if (token_expect(OPEN_SCOPE)) { // @todo: Fix error message here, it doesn't show proper token context
+        do {
+            Ast *stmt = parse_stmt();
+            scope->stmts.add(stmt);
+        } while (token_match(SAME_SCOPE));
+        token_expect(CLOSE_SCOPE);
+    }
+
+    if (!scope_defined_outside) finalize_stmt_scope(scope);
     return scope;
 }
 
diff --git a/meta.py b/meta.py
index 0e105e2..5b878a9 100644
--- a/meta.py
+++ b/meta.py
@@ -116,6 +116,7 @@ keywords = [
   "for",
   "enum",
   "goto",
+  "defer",
 ]
 
 interns = [