diff --git a/nds.nimble b/nds.nimble
index 69e57f3..e93eae1 100644
--- a/nds.nimble
+++ b/nds.nimble
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ bin           = @["nds"]
 requires "nim >= 1.6.2"
 
 task test, "run tests":
+  exec "nim c --gc:arc -d:release --skipProjCfg --skipParentCfg --out:bin/nds src/nds.nim"
   exec "nim c --gc:arc -d:debug --skipProjCfg --skipParentCfg -r tests/test.nim"
   exec "rm tests/test"
 
diff --git a/src/ndspkg/compiler/collections.nim b/src/ndspkg/compiler/collections.nim
index f961c2e..6fc8dbe 100644
--- a/src/ndspkg/compiler/collections.nim
+++ b/src/ndspkg/compiler/collections.nim
@@ -1,19 +1,13 @@
-import strformat
-import strutils
-import bitops # needed for value
+{.used.}
 
 import ../scanner
 import ../chunk
-import ../types/value
-import ../config
 
 # the following order of imports here is important
 # it defines the allowed dependency precedence between the compiler files
 import types
 import utils
 import precedence
-import jumps
-import scope
 
 # lists
 
diff --git a/src/ndspkg/compiler/controlflow.nim b/src/ndspkg/compiler/controlflow.nim
index ddedee5..a94cc44 100644
--- a/src/ndspkg/compiler/controlflow.nim
+++ b/src/ndspkg/compiler/controlflow.nim
@@ -1,11 +1,7 @@
-import strformat
-import strutils
-import bitops # needed for value
+{.used.}
 
 import ../scanner
 import ../chunk
-import ../types/value
-import ../config
 
 # the following order of imports here is important
 # it defines the allowed dependency precedence between the compiler files
@@ -13,7 +9,6 @@ import types
 import utils
 import precedence
 import jumps
-import scope
 
 proc ifExpr(comp: Compiler) =
   # if expressions return the body if condition is truthy,
diff --git a/src/ndspkg/compiler/expressions.nim b/src/ndspkg/compiler/expressions.nim
index e181023..7070549 100644
--- a/src/ndspkg/compiler/expressions.nim
+++ b/src/ndspkg/compiler/expressions.nim
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
-# THIS MODULE IS TO BE SPLIT UP LATER
+{.used.}
 
-import strformat
 import strutils
 import bitops # needed for value
 
@@ -14,8 +13,6 @@ import ../config
 import types
 import utils
 import precedence
-import jumps
-import scope
 
 # EXPRESSIONS
 
diff --git a/src/ndspkg/compiler/functions.nim b/src/ndspkg/compiler/functions.nim
index 4a25c9f..be1cab0 100644
--- a/src/ndspkg/compiler/functions.nim
+++ b/src/ndspkg/compiler/functions.nim
@@ -1,10 +1,9 @@
+{.used.}
+
 import strformat
-import strutils
-import bitops # needed for value
 
 import ../scanner
 import ../chunk
-import ../types/value
 import ../config
 
 # the following order of imports here is important
diff --git a/src/ndspkg/compiler/statement.nim b/src/ndspkg/compiler/statement.nim
index 8d89ac9..d11fd6e 100644
--- a/src/ndspkg/compiler/statement.nim
+++ b/src/ndspkg/compiler/statement.nim
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+{.used.}
 
 import ../scanner
 import ../chunk
diff --git a/src/ndspkg/compiler/variables.nim b/src/ndspkg/compiler/variables.nim
index 09997c9..7e60ae4 100644
--- a/src/ndspkg/compiler/variables.nim
+++ b/src/ndspkg/compiler/variables.nim
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+{.used.}
+
 import bitops # needed for value
 
 import ../scanner
diff --git a/src/ndspkg/config.nim b/src/ndspkg/config.nim
index 985ab05..c5e74e9 100644
--- a/src/ndspkg/config.nim
+++ b/src/ndspkg/config.nim
@@ -10,7 +10,8 @@ const debugDumpChunk* = defined(debug)
 const assertionsCompiler* = true # sanity checks in the compiler
 # vm debug options (setting any to true will slow runtime down!)
 const debugVM* = defined(debug)
-const assertionsVM* = defined(debug) # sanity checks in the VM, such as the stack being empty at the end
+const assertionsVM* = defined(debug) or defined(release) # sanity checks in the VM, such as the stack being empty at the end
+const boundsChecks* = defined(debug) or defined(release)
 const profileInstructions* = defined(ndsprofile) # if true, the time spent on every opcode is measured
 const debugClosures* = defined(debug) # specific closure debug switches
 
diff --git a/src/ndspkg/types/ndlist.nim b/src/ndspkg/types/ndlist.nim
index 3a89f22..21c3a15 100644
--- a/src/ndspkg/types/ndlist.nim
+++ b/src/ndspkg/types/ndlist.nim
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 import strformat
 
 # configure ndlist here
-const boundsChecks = defined(debug)
+import ../config
+#const boundsChecks = defined(debug)
   # boundsChecks default: false, true has a large performance impact, and emitting correct code is on the compiler's job
   # boundsChecking is only meant for debugging
 const growthFactor = 2
diff --git a/src/ndspkg/types/stack.nim b/src/ndspkg/types/stack.nim
index 43be89e..bba8af8 100644
--- a/src/ndspkg/types/stack.nim
+++ b/src/ndspkg/types/stack.nim
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 import ../pointerutils
 
 # configure stacks here
-const boundsChecks = defined(debug)
+import ../config
+#const boundsChecks = defined(debug)
   # boundsChecks default: false, true has a large performance impact, and emitting correct code is on the compiler's job
   # boundsChecking is only meant for debugging
 const growthFactor = 2