diff --git a/src/eval/stmt.rs b/src/eval/stmt.rs
index 282c2dcf4..85972d332 100644
--- a/src/eval/stmt.rs
+++ b/src/eval/stmt.rs
@@ -709,11 +709,16 @@ impl Engine {
 
                 // Add the loop variables
                 let counter_index = counter.as_ref().map(|counter| {
-                    scope.push(counter.name.clone(), 0 as INT);
+                    let name = self.get_interned_string(&counter.name);
+                    scope.push_entry(name, AccessMode::ReadWrite, Dynamic::ZERO);
                     scope.len() - 1
                 });
 
-                scope.push(var_name.name.clone(), ());
+                scope.push_entry(
+                    self.get_interned_string(&var_name.name),
+                    AccessMode::ReadWrite,
+                    Dynamic::UNIT,
+                );
                 let index = scope.len() - 1;
 
                 let mut result = Dynamic::UNIT;
@@ -855,7 +860,7 @@ impl Engine {
                             if scope.len() >= self.max_variables() {
                                 return Err(ERR::ErrorTooManyVariables(catch_var.position()).into());
                             }
-                            scope.push(x.1.clone(), err_value);
+                            scope.push_entry(x.1.clone(), AccessMode::ReadWrite, err_value);
                         }
 
                         let this_ptr = this_ptr.as_deref_mut();
diff --git a/src/grain/compile/mod.rs b/src/grain/compile/mod.rs
index 2576e6b4e..cdd7d63e7 100644
--- a/src/grain/compile/mod.rs
+++ b/src/grain/compile/mod.rs
@@ -430,34 +430,12 @@ impl Lowering {
         // the root and steps.
 
         let rewind_mark = self.mark();
-        let unwind_depth = self.slots.depth();
-
-        let value_slot = if let Some(value) = value {
-            if self.slots.is_full() {
-                return false;
-            }
-
-            let value_name = ImmutableString::from("$CHAIN_SET_VALUE$");
-            let value_name_index = self.push_name(value_name.clone());
-            let value_slot = self.slots.declare(value_name);
 
+        if let Some(value) = value {
             // First evaluate the assigned value first, stash it so the chain
             // can read it back after the lvalue steps have been resolved.
-            self.emit(Op::Unit);
-            self.emit(Op::DeclareLocal {
-                name: value_name_index,
-                is_const: false,
-            });
             self.expression(value);
-            self.emit(Op::StoreLocal {
-                slot: value_slot,
-                is_const: false,
-            });
-
-            Some(value_slot)
-        } else {
-            None
-        };
+        }
 
         // Index values and method arguments are evaluated first, in step
         // order, exactly as Rhai collects them before walking
@@ -493,16 +471,14 @@ impl Lowering {
                 ChainStep::Method(call, pos, flags) => {
                     self.caps.insert(Caps::METHOD);
                     if !self.is_lowerable_call(call) {
-                        if value_slot.is_some() {
+                        if value.is_some() {
                             self.rewind(rewind_mark);
-                            self.slots.unwind_to(unwind_depth);
                         }
                         return false;
                     }
                     let Ok(argc) = u8::try_from(call.args.len()) else {
-                        if value_slot.is_some() {
+                        if value.is_some() {
                             self.rewind(rewind_mark);
-                            self.slots.unwind_to(unwind_depth);
                         }
                         return false;
                     };
@@ -529,10 +505,6 @@ impl Lowering {
             self.expression(root);
         }
 
-        if let Some(value_slot) = value_slot {
-            self.emit(Op::LoadLocal(value_slot));
-        }
-
         let index = self.push_chain(Chain {
             root: root_spec,
             steps: lowered,
@@ -540,7 +512,6 @@ impl Lowering {
             operands,
         });
         self.emit_at(Op::Chain(index), expr.position());
-        self.unwind_to(unwind_depth);
         true
     }
 
diff --git a/src/grain/vm/mod.rs b/src/grain/vm/mod.rs
index 2657ba1cc..4f60212f2 100644
--- a/src/grain/vm/mod.rs
+++ b/src/grain/vm/mod.rs
@@ -1093,12 +1093,14 @@ impl<'e> Vm<'e> {
     ) -> VmResult {
         // Step operands were pushed first, then the root if it is one that has
         // to be evaluated, then the value being assigned.
-        let operands_at = self
+        let frame_pointer = self
             .stack
             .len()
             .checked_sub(chain.consumes())
             .ok_or_else(|| malformed("chain with too few operands".to_string()))?;
 
+        let operands_at = frame_pointer + usize::from(chain.assigns());
+
         let ChainRoot {
             value: mut root,
             pos: root_pos,
@@ -1131,7 +1133,7 @@ impl<'e> Vm<'e> {
             }),
             // Rhai flattens the right-hand side before assigning, so a shared
             // cell is copied out rather than aliased in.
-            (true, _) => Ok(Some(self.stack[self.stack.len() - 1].clone().flatten())),
+            (true, _) => Ok(Some(self.stack[frame_pointer].take().flatten())),
         };
 
         let result = value.and_then(|value| {
@@ -1187,7 +1189,7 @@ impl<'e> Vm<'e> {
         }
 
         let (out, _) = result?;
-        self.stack.truncate(operands_at);
+        self.stack.truncate(frame_pointer);
         Ok(out)
     }
 
@@ -2977,7 +2979,11 @@ impl<'e> Vm<'e> {
                 .get_mut(slot)
                 .ok_or_else(|| malformed("call with too few arguments".to_string()))?
                 .take();
-            scope.push_dynamic(name, value);
+            scope.push_entry(
+                self.strings_interner.get(name),
+                AccessMode::ReadWrite,
+                value,
+            );
         }
         let scope_end_len = scope.len();
 
@@ -3444,7 +3450,11 @@ impl<'e> Vm<'e> {
                     program.position(target),
                 )));
             }
-            scope.push_dynamic(name, value);
+            scope.push_entry(
+                self.strings_interner.get(name),
+                AccessMode::ReadWrite,
+                value,
+            );
         }
 
         self.handlers.last_mut().expect("checked").caught = Some(err);
@@ -3701,11 +3711,15 @@ impl<'e> Vm<'e> {
                         return Err(EvalAltResult::ErrorTooManyVariables(pos()).into());
                     }
 
-                    if tag == code::tag::DECLARE_CONST {
-                        scope.push_constant_dynamic(name, value);
-                    } else {
-                        scope.push_dynamic(name, value);
-                    }
+                    scope.push_entry(
+                        self.strings_interner.get(name),
+                        if tag == code::tag::DECLARE_CONST {
+                            AccessMode::ReadOnly
+                        } else {
+                            AccessMode::ReadWrite
+                        },
+                        value,
+                    );
                 }
 
                 code::tag::ASSIGN_LOCAL | code::tag::ASSIGN_LOCAL_OP => {