diff --git a/c/output/out-dev b/c/output/out-dev
index 453053866..f962e5ab1 100644
--- a/c/output/out-dev
+++ b/c/output/out-dev
@@ -4,7 +4,65 @@ ABSENT-HANDLING
 
 mlr put $a = $a * 2
 a=2,b=2
-a=6,b=4
-a=,b=6
-x=7,b=8,a=2
+a=,b=4
+x=,b=6,a=2
+a=14,b=8
+
+mlr put $new = $a * 2
+a=1,b=2,new=2
+a=,b=4,new=
+x=,b=6,new=2
+a=7,b=8,new=14
+
+mlr put $new = @nonesuch * 2
+a=1,b=2,new=2
+a=,b=4,new=2
+x=,b=6,new=2
+a=7,b=8,new=2
+
+mlr put $new = @nonesuch * $a
+a=1,b=2,new=1
+a=,b=4,new=
+x=,b=6,new=
+a=7,b=8,new=7
+
+mlr put @sum = @sum + $a; emit @sum
+sum=1
+a=1,b=2
+sum=
+a=,b=4
+sum=
+x=,b=6
+sum=
+a=7,b=8
+
+mlr put @product = @product * $a; emit @product
+product=1
+a=1,b=2
+product=
+a=,b=4
+product=
+x=,b=6
+product=
+a=7,b=8
+
+mlr put begin { @sum = 10 }; @sum = @sum + $a; emit @sum
+sum=11
+a=1,b=2
+sum=
+a=,b=4
+sum=
+x=,b=6
+sum=
+a=7,b=8
+
+mlr put begin { @product = 10 }; @product = @product * $a; emit @product
+product=10
+a=1,b=2
+product=
+a=,b=4
+product=
+x=,b=6
+product=
+a=7,b=8
 
diff --git a/c/reg_test/dev b/c/reg_test/dev
index 4e7f8e14c..1f8af149e 100755
--- a/c/reg_test/dev
+++ b/c/reg_test/dev
@@ -68,9 +68,58 @@ announce ABSENT-HANDLING
 
 run_mlr put '$a = $a * 2' <<EOF
 a=1,b=2
-a=3,b=4
-a=,b=6
-x=7,b=8
+a=,b=4
+x=,b=6
+a=7,b=8
+EOF
+
+run_mlr put '$new = $a * 2' <<EOF
+a=1,b=2
+a=,b=4
+x=,b=6
+a=7,b=8
+EOF
+
+run_mlr put '$new = @nonesuch * 2' <<EOF
+a=1,b=2
+a=,b=4
+x=,b=6
+a=7,b=8
+EOF
+
+run_mlr put '$new = @nonesuch * $a' <<EOF
+a=1,b=2
+a=,b=4
+x=,b=6
+a=7,b=8
+EOF
+
+run_mlr put '@sum = @sum + $a; emit @sum' <<EOF
+a=1,b=2
+a=,b=4
+x=,b=6
+a=7,b=8
+EOF
+
+run_mlr put '@product = @product * $a; emit @product' <<EOF
+a=1,b=2
+a=,b=4
+x=,b=6
+a=7,b=8
+EOF
+
+run_mlr put 'begin { @sum = 10 }; @sum = @sum + $a; emit @sum' <<EOF
+a=1,b=2
+a=,b=4
+x=,b=6
+a=7,b=8
+EOF
+
+run_mlr put 'begin { @product = 10 }; @product = @product * $a; emit @product' <<EOF
+a=1,b=2
+a=,b=4
+x=,b=6
+a=7,b=8
 EOF
 
 # ================================================================
diff --git a/c/reg_test/expected/out-dev b/c/reg_test/expected/out-dev
index 453053866..f962e5ab1 100644
--- a/c/reg_test/expected/out-dev
+++ b/c/reg_test/expected/out-dev
@@ -4,7 +4,65 @@ ABSENT-HANDLING
 
 mlr put $a = $a * 2
 a=2,b=2
-a=6,b=4
-a=,b=6
-x=7,b=8,a=2
+a=,b=4
+x=,b=6,a=2
+a=14,b=8
+
+mlr put $new = $a * 2
+a=1,b=2,new=2
+a=,b=4,new=
+x=,b=6,new=2
+a=7,b=8,new=14
+
+mlr put $new = @nonesuch * 2
+a=1,b=2,new=2
+a=,b=4,new=2
+x=,b=6,new=2
+a=7,b=8,new=2
+
+mlr put $new = @nonesuch * $a
+a=1,b=2,new=1
+a=,b=4,new=
+x=,b=6,new=
+a=7,b=8,new=7
+
+mlr put @sum = @sum + $a; emit @sum
+sum=1
+a=1,b=2
+sum=
+a=,b=4
+sum=
+x=,b=6
+sum=
+a=7,b=8
+
+mlr put @product = @product * $a; emit @product
+product=1
+a=1,b=2
+product=
+a=,b=4
+product=
+x=,b=6
+product=
+a=7,b=8
+
+mlr put begin { @sum = 10 }; @sum = @sum + $a; emit @sum
+sum=11
+a=1,b=2
+sum=
+a=,b=4
+sum=
+x=,b=6
+sum=
+a=7,b=8
+
+mlr put begin { @product = 10 }; @product = @product * $a; emit @product
+product=10
+a=1,b=2
+product=
+a=,b=4
+product=
+x=,b=6
+product=
+a=7,b=8