diff --git a/lib/c/src/errno.c.ri b/lib/c/src/errno.c.ri
index f0d8a75f2..ae720cd4f 100644
--- a/lib/c/src/errno.c.ri
+++ b/lib/c/src/errno.c.ri
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ pub struct ErrnoError < Throwable {
 
 #[inline]
 pub func errno() -> int32 {
-    comptime if _LINUX_ {
+    $if _LINUX_ {
         return unsafe { libc.__errno_location()?.* };
     } else {
         return unsafe { libc._errno().* };
diff --git a/lib/c/src/libc/errno.ri b/lib/c/src/libc/errno.ri
index 3bf5d3600..70128454b 100644
--- a/lib/c/src/libc/errno.ri
+++ b/lib/c/src/libc/errno.ri
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 // source code is governed by an MIT license that can be found in the LICENSE
 // file.
 
-comptime if _LINUX_ {
+$if _LINUX_ {
     extern (C) {
         pub func __errno_location() -> ?&mut int32;
     }
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ comptime if _LINUX_ {
     pub const ERANGE := 34;
 }
 
-comptime if _WINDOWS_ {
+$if _WINDOWS_ {
     extern (C) {
         #[dllimport]
         pub func _errno() -> &mut int32;
diff --git a/lib/c/src/libc/signal.ri b/lib/c/src/libc/signal.ri
index de5637a7c..236e3fff7 100644
--- a/lib/c/src/libc/signal.ri
+++ b/lib/c/src/libc/signal.ri
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import ../ctypes.{ pid_t, uid_t };
 
 pub alias SignalHandler := func(int32, &mut siginfo_t, rawptr);
 
-comptime if _LINUX_ {
+$if _LINUX_ {
     pub const SA_ONSTACK := 0x08000000;
     pub const SA_SIGINFO := 0x00000004;
     pub const SA_NOCLDWAIT := 0x00000002;
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ comptime if _LINUX_ {
     pub const SEGV_ACCERR := 0x2;
 
     pub struct sigset_t {
-        pub __val: [comptime if _X86_ { 32 } else { 16 }]uint32;
+        pub __val: [$if _X86_ { 32 } else { 16 }]uint32;
     }
 
     pub struct sigval {
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ comptime if _LINUX_ {
 }
 
 extern (C) {
-    comptime if _LINUX_ {
+    $if _LINUX_ {
         pub func sigaction(signum: int32, act: ?&sigaction_t, old_act: ?&mut sigaction_t) -> int32;
     }
     pub func signal(sig: int32, handler: SignalHandler) -> ?SignalHandler;
diff --git a/lib/c/src/libc/stat.ri b/lib/c/src/libc/stat.ri
index f2b280af7..8d18aef84 100644
--- a/lib/c/src/libc/stat.ri
+++ b/lib/c/src/libc/stat.ri
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 import c/ctypes.*;
 
-comptime if _AMD64_ {
+$if _AMD64_ {
     // The `stat` definition used by the Linux kernel.
     pub struct Stat {
         pub dev: dev_t;
diff --git a/lib/c/src/libc/stdio.ri b/lib/c/src/libc/stdio.ri
index a49067a9d..d4ec6c3a2 100644
--- a/lib/c/src/libc/stdio.ri
+++ b/lib/c/src/libc/stdio.ri
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ pub const O_CLOEXEC := 0x80000;
 
 pub struct FILE;
 
-comptime if _LINUX_ {
+$if _LINUX_ {
     extern (C) {
         pub var stdin: &mut FILE;
         pub var stdout: &mut FILE;
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ comptime if _LINUX_ {
 	pub const TMP_MAX := 308915776;
 }
 
-comptime if _WINDOWS_ {
+$if _WINDOWS_ {
     extern (C) {
         func __acrt_iob_fn(index: uint32) -> &mut FILE;
     }
diff --git a/lib/c/src/libc/stdlib.ri b/lib/c/src/libc/stdlib.ri
index 8d0a0afae..efe3c98b8 100644
--- a/lib/c/src/libc/stdlib.ri
+++ b/lib/c/src/libc/stdlib.ri
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 // source code is governed by an MIT license that can be found in the LICENSE
 // file.
 
-comptime if _LINUX_ {
+$if _LINUX_ {
     pub const RAND_MAX := 0x7fffffff;
 } else if _WINDOWS_ {
     pub const RAND_MAX := 0x7fff;
diff --git a/lib/c/src/libc/unistd.ri b/lib/c/src/libc/unistd.ri
index 7f2681fa2..67dd7b206 100644
--- a/lib/c/src/libc/unistd.ri
+++ b/lib/c/src/libc/unistd.ri
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ extern (C) {
 
     pub func readlink(path: [&]uint8, buf: [&]uint8, size: uint) -> int;
 
-    comptime if _LINUX_ {
+    $if _LINUX_ {
         pub func get_nprocs() -> int32;
     }
 }
diff --git a/lib/c/src/wyhash.ri b/lib/c/src/wyhash.ri
index 4dcbed466..58111a249 100644
--- a/lib/c/src/wyhash.ri
+++ b/lib/c/src/wyhash.ri
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ extern (C) {
     func wy2u01(r: uint64) -> float64;
     func wy2gau(r: uint64) -> float64;
 
-    comptime if !WYHASH_32BIT_MUM {
+    $if !WYHASH_32BIT_MUM {
         func wy2u0k(r: uint64, k: uint64) -> uint64;
     }
 }
diff --git a/lib/core/src/TestRunner.ri b/lib/core/src/TestRunner.ri
index ab27041d3..4e4998796 100644
--- a/lib/core/src/TestRunner.ri
+++ b/lib/core/src/TestRunner.ri
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 // source code is governed by an MIT license that can be found in the LICENSE
 // file.
 
-comptime if _TESTS_ {
+$if _TESTS_ {
     var support_color := console_is_atty(1);
 
     var ok_status := bold(green("-> OK"));
diff --git a/lib/core/src/backtrace.c.ri b/lib/core/src/backtrace.c.ri
index 445bf1853..bdd9c29cb 100644
--- a/lib/core/src/backtrace.c.ri
+++ b/lib/core/src/backtrace.c.ri
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 // source code is governed by an MIT license that can be found in the LICENSE
 // file.
 
-comptime if !_RELEASE_ { // skip backtrace in release mode
+$if !_RELEASE_ { // skip backtrace in release mode
     #![compile_c_source("../thirdparty/libbacktrace/backtrace.c")]
 
     import c;
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ comptime if !_RELEASE_ { // skip backtrace in release mode
 }
 
 pub func bt_print(frames_to_skip: int32 := 0) {
-    comptime if _RELEASE_ {
+    $if _RELEASE_ {
         _ = frames_to_skip;
     } else {
         unsafe {
diff --git a/lib/core/src/entry_point.ri b/lib/core/src/entry_point.ri
index 5a3b43a97..b1be3db74 100644
--- a/lib/core/src/entry_point.ri
+++ b/lib/core/src/entry_point.ri
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ func init_args(_argc: uint, _argv: [&][&]uint8) {
     }
 }
 
-comptime if _TESTS_ {
+$if _TESTS_ {
     func main(_argc: int32, _argv: [&][&]uint8, mut test_runner: TestRunner) {
         setup_signals_handler();
         init_args(@as(uint, _argc), _argv);
diff --git a/lib/core/src/int.ri b/lib/core/src/int.ri
index e91d3dce4..74cac38aa 100644
--- a/lib/core/src/int.ri
+++ b/lib/core/src/int.ri
@@ -149,12 +149,12 @@ extend int64 < Stringable {
 }
 
 extend int < Stringable {
-    pub const MIN := @as(int, comptime if _x64_ { int64.MIN } else { int32.MIN });
-    pub const MAX := @as(int, comptime if _x64_ { int64.MAX } else { int32.MAX });
+    pub const MIN := @as(int, $if _x64_ { int64.MIN } else { int32.MIN });
+    pub const MAX := @as(int, $if _x64_ { int64.MAX } else { int32.MAX });
 
     #[inline]
     pub func bits() -> uint32 {
-        return comptime if _x64_ { 64 } else { 32 };
+        return $if _x64_ { 64 } else { 32 };
     }
 
     /// Returns the value of `self` as a string.
diff --git a/lib/core/src/uint.ri b/lib/core/src/uint.ri
index 4acf1290d..fc88eeff7 100644
--- a/lib/core/src/uint.ri
+++ b/lib/core/src/uint.ri
@@ -197,11 +197,11 @@ extend uint64 < Stringable {
 }
 
 extend uint < Stringable {
-    pub const MAX := @as(uint, comptime if _x64_ { uint64.MAX } else { uint32.MAX });
+    pub const MAX := @as(uint, $if _x64_ { uint64.MAX } else { uint32.MAX });
 
     #[inline]
     pub func bits() -> uint32 {
-        return comptime if _x64_ { 64 } else { 32 };
+        return $if _x64_ { 64 } else { 32 };
     }
 
     /// Returns the value of `self` as a string.
diff --git a/lib/rivet/src/ast/Expr.ri b/lib/rivet/src/ast/Expr.ri
index 41701db10..cf9fbf186 100644
--- a/lib/rivet/src/ast/Expr.ri
+++ b/lib/rivet/src/ast/Expr.ri
@@ -534,7 +534,7 @@ pub enum Expr < traits.Stringable {
                         sb.write_string("else if ");
                         sb.write_string(branch.cond.to_string());
                     } else {
-                        sb.write_string("comptime if ");
+                        sb.write_string("$if ");
                         sb.write_string(branch.cond.to_string());
                     }
                     sb.write_fmt("{{ {} nodes }}", branch.nodes.len);
diff --git a/lib/rivet/src/parser/decls.ri b/lib/rivet/src/parser/decls.ri
index bf8eb3273..e1759fd7d 100644
--- a/lib/rivet/src/parser/decls.ri
+++ b/lib/rivet/src/parser/decls.ri
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ extend Parser {
         mut pos := self.tok.pos;
         match {
             self.tok.kind == .Comment -> return .Comment(self.parse_comment()),
-            self.accept(.KwComptime) -> match self.tok.kind {
+            self.accept(.Dollar) -> match self.tok.kind {
                 .KwIf -> return .ComptimeIf(self.parse_comptime_if(.Decl)),
                 else -> {
                     report.error("invalid comptime construction", self.tok.pos);
diff --git a/lib/rivet/src/parser/exprs.ri b/lib/rivet/src/parser/exprs.ri
index 36f9b73ed..d62b17d5f 100644
--- a/lib/rivet/src/parser/exprs.ri
+++ b/lib/rivet/src/parser/exprs.ri
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ extend Parser {
 
     func parse_primary_expr(mut self) -> ast.Expr {
         mut expr: ast.Expr := match {
-            self.accept(.KwComptime) -> match self.tok.kind {
+            self.accept(.Dollar) -> match self.tok.kind {
                 .KwIf -> .ComptimeIf(self.parse_comptime_if(.Expr)),
                 else -> {
                     report.error("invalid comptime construction", self.tok.pos);
diff --git a/lib/rivet/src/parser/stmts.ri b/lib/rivet/src/parser/stmts.ri
index 59aa0573b..5b5d921b4 100644
--- a/lib/rivet/src/parser/stmts.ri
+++ b/lib/rivet/src/parser/stmts.ri
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ extend Parser {
     func parse_stmt(mut self) -> ast.Stmt {
         return match {
             self.tok.kind == .Comment -> .Comment(self.parse_comment()),
-            self.accept(.KwComptime) -> match self.tok.kind {
+            self.accept(.Dollar) -> match self.tok.kind {
                 .KwIf -> .ComptimeIf(self.parse_comptime_if(.Stmt)),
                 else -> {
                     report.error("invalid comptime construction", self.tok.pos);
diff --git a/lib/rivet/src/token/Kind.ri b/lib/rivet/src/token/Kind.ri
index 06a3dc301..d9e3df245 100644
--- a/lib/rivet/src/token/Kind.ri
+++ b/lib/rivet/src/token/Kind.ri
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-// Copyright (C) 2023-present Jose Mendoza - All rights reserved. Use of this 
-// source code is governed by an MIT license that can be found in the LICENSE 
+// Copyright (C) 2023-present Jose Mendoza - All rights reserved. Use of this
+// source code is governed by an MIT license that can be found in the LICENSE
 // file.
 
 import std/traits;
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ var kind_strings := [
     KindMap(.Ellipsis, "..."),
     KindMap(.Hash, "#"),
     KindMap(.At, "@"),
+    KindMap(.Dollar, "$"),
     KindMap(.Arrow, "->"),
     KindMap(.Comma, ","),
     KindMap(.Colon, ":"),
@@ -71,7 +72,6 @@ var kind_strings := [
     KindMap(.KwAs, "as"),
     KindMap(.KwBreak, "break"),
     KindMap(.KwCatch, "catch"),
-    KindMap(.KwComptime, "comptime"),
     KindMap(.KwConst, "const"),
     KindMap(.KwContinue, "continue"),
     KindMap(.KwDefer, "defer"),
@@ -144,6 +144,7 @@ pub enum Kind < traits.Stringable {
     Ellipsis, // ...
     Hash, // #
     At, // @
+    Dollar, // $
     Arrow, // ->
     Comma, // ,
     Colon, // :
@@ -170,7 +171,6 @@ pub enum Kind < traits.Stringable {
     KwAs, // as
     KwBreak, // break
     KwCatch, // catch
-    KwComptime, // comptime
     KwConst, // const
     KwContinue, // continue
     KwDefer, // defer
diff --git a/lib/rivet/src/tokenizer/next.ri b/lib/rivet/src/tokenizer/next.ri
index 334f047e0..b3271acd2 100644
--- a/lib/rivet/src/tokenizer/next.ri
+++ b/lib/rivet/src/tokenizer/next.ri
@@ -162,6 +162,7 @@ extend Tokenizer {
                     return self.new_token(.Mod);
                 },
                 '@' -> return self.new_token(.At),
+                '$' -> return self.new_token(.Dollar),
                 '=' -> {
                     if nextc == '=' {
                         self.pos += 1;
diff --git a/lib/std/src/dynlib/mod.c.ri b/lib/std/src/dynlib/mod.c.ri
index 5bd7ddeb5..59ecc45a5 100644
--- a/lib/std/src/dynlib/mod.c.ri
+++ b/lib/std/src/dynlib/mod.c.ri
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 // source code is governed by an MIT license that can be found in the LICENSE
 // file.
 
-comptime if _LINUX_ {
+$if _LINUX_ {
     #![link_library("dl")]
 }
 
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ func dlerror() -> ?string {
 
 #[inline]
 func get_shared_library_extension() -> string {
-    return comptime if _LINUX_ {
+    return $if _LINUX_ {
         ".so"
     } else if _WINDOWS_ {
         ".dll"
diff --git a/lib/std/src/env/mod.c.ri b/lib/std/src/env/mod.c.ri
index cf5aa4a0d..fa20a7171 100644
--- a/lib/std/src/env/mod.c.ri
+++ b/lib/std/src/env/mod.c.ri
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import core;
 import c/libc;
 
 /// User's home directory.
-pub var home_dir := get(comptime if _LINUX_ { "HOME" } else { "USERPROFILE" }) ?? "";
+pub var home_dir := get($if _LINUX_ { "HOME" } else { "USERPROFILE" }) ?? "";
 
 /// Returns `true` if the environment variable exists.
 #[inline]
diff --git a/lib/std/src/fs/Path.c.ri b/lib/std/src/fs/Path.c.ri
index d439b1eda..f7796707c 100644
--- a/lib/std/src/fs/Path.c.ri
+++ b/lib/std/src/fs/Path.c.ri
@@ -9,9 +9,9 @@ import ../mem;
 
 pub struct Path {
     pub alias MAX_LEN := libc.MAX_PATH_LEN;
-    pub const SEPARATOR := comptime if _WINDOWS_ { b'\\' } else { b'/' };
-    pub var separator_str := comptime if _WINDOWS_ { "\\" } else { "/" };
-    pub var delimiter := comptime if _WINDOWS_ { ";" } else { ":" };
+    pub const SEPARATOR := $if _WINDOWS_ { b'\\' } else { b'/' };
+    pub var separator_str := $if _WINDOWS_ { "\\" } else { "/" };
+    pub var delimiter := $if _WINDOWS_ { ";" } else { ":" };
 
     /// Returns `true` if the given byte is a valid path separator
     #[inline]
diff --git a/lib/std/src/sys/arch.ri b/lib/std/src/sys/arch.ri
index 4610d342f..8009d20ae 100644
--- a/lib/std/src/sys/arch.ri
+++ b/lib/std/src/sys/arch.ri
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 // file.
 
 import ../traits;
-comptime if !(_X86_ || _AMD64_) {
+$if !(_X86_ || _AMD64_) {
     import ../process;
 }
 
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ pub enum Arch as uint8 < traits.Stringable {
 /// Returns the current architecture.
 #[inline]
 pub func arch() -> Arch {
-    comptime if _X86_ {
+    $if _X86_ {
         return .X86;
     } else if _AMD64_ {
         return .Amd64;
diff --git a/lib/std/src/sys/mod.c.ri b/lib/std/src/sys/mod.c.ri
index 86887445f..a3e422395 100644
--- a/lib/std/src/sys/mod.c.ri
+++ b/lib/std/src/sys/mod.c.ri
@@ -4,14 +4,14 @@
 
 import c/libc;
 
-comptime if !_LINUX_ {
+$if !_LINUX_ {
     import ../process;
 }
 
 /// Returns the number of virtual CPU cores found on the system.
 #[inline]
 pub func nr_cpus() -> int32 {
-    comptime if _LINUX_ {
+    $if _LINUX_ {
         return unsafe { libc.get_nprocs() };
     } else {
         process.panic("`nr_cpus` only works on linux (for now)");
diff --git a/lib/std/src/sys/os.ri b/lib/std/src/sys/os.ri
index 33f6c41f6..5e91e4305 100644
--- a/lib/std/src/sys/os.ri
+++ b/lib/std/src/sys/os.ri
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 // file.
 
 import ../traits;
-comptime if !(_X86_ || _AMD64_) {
+$if !(_X86_ || _AMD64_) {
     import ../process;
 }
 
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ pub enum OS as uint8 < traits.Stringable {
 /// Returns the current operating system.
 #[inline]
 pub func os() -> OS {
-    comptime if _LINUX_ {
+    $if _LINUX_ {
         return .Linux;
     } else if _WINDOWS_ {
         return .Windows;
diff --git a/rivetc/src/lexer.py b/rivetc/src/lexer.py
index 922c535ae..f44999c73 100644
--- a/rivetc/src/lexer.py
+++ b/rivetc/src/lexer.py
@@ -560,6 +560,8 @@ def internal_next(self):
                 return token.Token("", Kind.Mod, pos)
             elif ch == "@":
                 return token.Token("", Kind.At, pos)
+            elif ch == "$":
+                return token.Token("", Kind.Dollar, pos)
             #
             elif ch == "=":
                 if nextc == "=":
diff --git a/rivetc/src/parser.py b/rivetc/src/parser.py
index 0f54f30a4..466624dd0 100644
--- a/rivetc/src/parser.py
+++ b/rivetc/src/parser.py
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ def parse_decls(self):
         return decls
 
     def parse_decl(self):
-        if self.accept(Kind.KwComptime):
+        if self.accept(Kind.Dollar):
             if self.tok.kind == Kind.KwIf:
                 return self.parse_comptime_if(0)
             else:
@@ -632,7 +632,7 @@ def decl_operator_is_used(self):
         return False
 
     def parse_stmt(self):
-        if self.accept(Kind.KwComptime):
+        if self.accept(Kind.Dollar):
             if self.tok.kind == Kind.KwIf:
                 return self.parse_comptime_if(1)
             else:
@@ -872,7 +872,7 @@ def parse_unary_expr(self):
 
     def parse_primary_expr(self):
         expr = self.empty_expr()
-        if self.accept(Kind.KwComptime):
+        if self.accept(Kind.Dollar):
             if self.tok.kind == Kind.KwIf:
                 expr = self.parse_comptime_if(3)
             else:
diff --git a/rivetc/src/token.py b/rivetc/src/token.py
index 6505ce796..fee4a72a0 100644
--- a/rivetc/src/token.py
+++ b/rivetc/src/token.py
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ class Kind(Enum):
     Ellipsis = auto_enum() # ...
     Hash = auto_enum() # #
     At = auto_enum() # @
+    Dollar = auto_enum() # $
     Arrow = auto_enum() # ->
     Comma = auto_enum() # ,
     Colon = auto_enum() # :
@@ -66,7 +67,6 @@ class Kind(Enum):
     KwAs = auto_enum() # as
     KwBreak = auto_enum() # break
     KwCatch = auto_enum() # catch
-    KwComptime = auto_enum() # comptime
     KwConst = auto_enum() # const
     KwContinue = auto_enum() # continue
     KwDefer = auto_enum() # defer
@@ -185,6 +185,7 @@ def __str__(self):
     Kind.Ellipsis: "...",
     Kind.Hash: "#",
     Kind.At: "@",
+    Kind.Dollar: "$",
     Kind.Arrow: "->",
     Kind.Comma: ",",
     Kind.Colon: ":",
@@ -210,7 +211,6 @@ def __str__(self):
     Kind.KwAs: "as",
     Kind.KwBreak: "break",
     Kind.KwCatch: "catch",
-    Kind.KwComptime: "comptime",
     Kind.KwConst: "const",
     Kind.KwContinue: "continue",
     Kind.KwDefer: "defer",