diff --git a/source/compiler/compiler/type_system/semantic_context.cpp b/source/compiler/compiler/type_system/semantic_context.cpp
index f2b02d5..ffdd42c 100644
--- a/source/compiler/compiler/type_system/semantic_context.cpp
+++ b/source/compiler/compiler/type_system/semantic_context.cpp
@@ -13,17 +13,18 @@ namespace sigma {
 			}
 
 			switch (type.get_kind()) {
-				case type::VOID: return VOID_TYPE;
+				case type::VOID:   return VOID_TYPE;
 				case type::BOOL:
 				case type::I8:
-				case type::U8:   return I8_TYPE;
+				case type::U8:     return I8_TYPE;
 				case type::I16:
-				case type::U16:  return I16_TYPE;
+				case type::U16:    return I16_TYPE;
 				case type::CHAR:
 				case type::I32:
-				case type::U32:  return I32_TYPE;
+				case type::U32:    return I32_TYPE;
 				case type::I64:
-				case type::U64:  return I64_TYPE;
+				case type::U64:    return I64_TYPE;
+				case type::STRUCT: return PTR_TYPE;
 				default: NOT_IMPLEMENTED();
 			}
 
diff --git a/source/compiler/test/main.s b/source/compiler/test/main.s
index 106357a..9fa15a3 100644
--- a/source/compiler/test/main.s
+++ b/source/compiler/test/main.s
@@ -6,30 +6,34 @@
 // -   numerical literals are always interpreted as i32
 
 // TODO: 
-// -   global struct declarations
 // -   DIAGNOSTICS:
 //     -   better messages
 //     -   more info related to numerical errors (hex etc)
 //     -   add namespaces to messages, whenever applicable (ie. x::y::test)
 // -   BUGS:
-//     -   structs as function parameters (rework the < op)
+//     -   STRUCT parameters are buggy af (TODO: proper > operator for types)
+//     -   return types are unchecked
 
-struct key {
-	i32* value;
+struct user {
+	i32* k;
+	i32 x;
 };
 
-i32 main() {
-	struct user {
-		key k;
-	};
+void print(user usr) {
+	printf("key: %d %d %d\n", usr.k[0], usr.k[1], usr.x);
+}
 
+i32 main() {
 	user my_user;
 
-	my_user.k.value = cast<i32*>(malloc(sizeof(i32) * 2));
-	my_user.k.value[0] = 123;
-	my_user.k.value[1] = 321;
+	my_user.k = cast<i32*>(malloc(8));
+	my_user.k[0] = 123;
+	my_user.k[1] = 321;
+
+	my_user.x = 111;
 	
-	printf("key: %d %d\n", my_user.k.value[0], my_user.k.value[1]);
+	printf("key: %d %d %d\n", my_user.k[0], my_user.k[1], my_user.x);
+	print(my_user);
 
 	ret 0;
 }
diff --git a/source/ir_translator/ir_translator.cpp b/source/ir_translator/ir_translator.cpp
index 0325b50..7ebe2be 100644
--- a/source/ir_translator/ir_translator.cpp
+++ b/source/ir_translator/ir_translator.cpp
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ namespace sigma {
 			case ast::node_type::ALIGNOF:                        return translate_alignof(ast_node);
 			case ast::node_type::SIZEOF:                         return translate_sizeof(ast_node);
 			case ast::node_type::CAST:                           return translate_cast(ast_node);
+			default: PANIC("irgen for node '{}' is not implemented", ast_node->type.to_string());
 		}
 
 		return nullptr;
@@ -381,7 +382,7 @@ namespace sigma {
 		handle<ir::node> base = translate_node(access_node->children[0]);
 
 		const type base_type = access_node->get<ast::type_expression>().type;
-		const u16 alignment = base_type.get_alignment();
+		const u16 alignment = base_type.dereference(1).get_alignment(); // get the alignment of the type we're accessing
 
 		// chained accesses
 		if (
diff --git a/source/type_checker/type_checker.cpp b/source/type_checker/type_checker.cpp
index d1b40b5..03aac5c 100644
--- a/source/type_checker/type_checker.cpp
+++ b/source/type_checker/type_checker.cpp
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ namespace sigma {
 
 		// type check inner statements
 		for(const ast_node& statement : declaration->children) {
-			TRY(type_check_node(statement, declaration, function.signature.return_type));
+			TRY(type_check_node(statement, declaration));
 		}
 
 		TRY(m_context.semantics.verify_control_flow(declaration));
@@ -449,9 +449,9 @@ namespace sigma {
 	}
 
 	auto type_checker::implicit_type_cast(type original_type, type target_type, ast_node parent, ast_node target) const -> type_check_result {
-		if(original_type.is_pure_void() || target_type.is_pure_void()) {
-			return error::emit(error::code::INVALID_VOID, target->location);
-		}
+		// if(original_type.is_pure_void() || target_type.is_pure_void()) {
+		// 	return error::emit(error::code::INVALID_VOID, target->location);
+		// }
 
 		if(target_type.is_unknown()) {
 			return original_type;